Prof. Mendez and Acosta are interviewed by El Pais about the Arecibo Observatory emphasizing the loss and hope for what comes next.
The article discusses the impact of the collapse of the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, which was once the largest of its kind in the world until it fell in December 2020. The telescope contributed significantly to scientific discoveries, such as identifying the first exoplanet and sending the first message into space. Scientists mourn its loss, with memories from those who worked with the telescope, including Puerto Rican professor Angel Acosta as well as Abel Méndez and Colombian scientist Luisa Fernanda Zambrano, who characterized asteroids using Arecibo.
Despite the devastation, Arecibo’s legacy remains strong, and its data continues to be valuable to the scientific community. After its collapse, efforts to restore the telescope were deemed unfeasible, and in 2023, the National Science Foundation (NSF) selected the Arecibo C3 project to repurpose the space for broader scientific education and community engagement. The new center will focus on various fields of science and education rather than solely astronomy, though some believe it will still emphasize space sciences. There is ongoing curiosity about the fate of other scientific instruments at the site, such as a 12-meter radio telescope that is still functional.
The article conveys both the sadness over the telescope’s loss and the hope for what comes next as the Arecibo C3 project begins. However, filling the gap left by Arecibo is seen as a challenging task.