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When we look up at the starry sky, have we ever wondered if there is a pair of eyes that can penetrate the vast universe and see more distant, beautiful, and mysterious scenes? Is there a tool that can pick up signals invisible to the naked eye and reveal secrets hidden in the darkness.
Such eyes and instruments exist, they are radio telescopes.
A radio telescope is an instrument that uses radio waves to make astronomical observations. It can receive radio waves from distant galaxies, pulsars, the Sun and other celestial bodies and convert them into images or data, which allows us to explore inaccessible territories with these optical telescopes.
Radio telescopes are an important window for human exploration of the universe and an important tool for scientists to study astronomical phenomena and the laws of physics.
How did it happen that this once great "eye of the world" is now in ruins, like a huge garbage dump forgotten in a corner?
The glory days of the "Eye of the World"
The official name of this "eye of the world" is the Arecibo Radio Telescope, also known as the Arecibo Observatory. Located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It is a project of the National Science Foundation and is managed by Cornell University. Business management. Construction began in 1960 and was completed in 1963 at a cost of $8.5 million. At the time, it was the largest radio telescope in the world.
The design of the Arecibo radio telescope is very unique and innovative. It uses a naturally occurring karst basin as a reflective surface and covers the basin with a huge metal mesh to form a hemispherical parabola. A platform weighing 900 tons hangs directly above the dish antenna, on which various receivers and transmitters are installed, supported by 18 steel cables and three towers
Such a structure allows the Arecibo radio telescope to receive radio waves of different frequencies and directions, and change the observation target by adjusting the height and angle of the platform. Since its construction, the Arecibo radio telescope has embarked on a journey of discovery, bringing many important discoveries and benefits to mankind
In 1964, it discovered the first exoplanet, a planet orbiting a pulsar, which was the first time that humans confirmed the existence of other planets outside the solar system, opening a new era of exoplanet research
The first binary pulsar, a system of two pulsars orbiting each other, has been observed. This is the first time that two neutron stars in a binary star system have been observed, providing important evidence for the later verification of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
It monitors and analyzes geophysically important areas such as the Earth's atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere, providing new data and models for understanding the Earth's environment and changes. Tracking and identifying objects related to manned spaceflight activities such as artificial satellites, space debris and meteorites provides new technologies and support for ensuring the safety of manned spaceflight. The Arecibo radio telescope is a banner of human space exploration, a monument to scientific progress and a splendor of human civilization. It not only enhances human knowledge and understanding of the natural world, but also expands human imagination and exploration of unknown areas. He not only created countless scientific achievements and awards for mankind, but also left countless stories and memories for mankind
The decline of the "eyes of the world"
This once great "eye of the world" has not always maintained its glory and status. Over time, it gradually embarked on a path of decline, which eventually led to its collapse and destruction. How did this "eye of the world" fall?
The Arecibo radio telescope faces technological backwardness and competition. Since the Arecibo radio telescope was built in the 60s of the 20th century, it used the most advanced technology and materials of the time, but it seems obsolete today. It uses metal mesh as the reflective surface, but the metal mesh is easy to rust and deform, which affects the reception effect.
A fixed disk is used, but the fixed disk can only observe a small area of the sky, which limits the observation range. It uses receivers and transmitters of limited types and frequencies, but limited receiver and transmitter types and frequencies cannot meet diverse and complex observation needs
In the decades since the Arecibo radio telescope was built, many new radio telescopes have been built around the world. They use more advanced technology and materials, are larger in size, more sensitive, and able to observe farther, weaker, finer radio waves.
China has built a 500-meter aperture radio telescope in Guizhou, known as China's Sky Eye. It is currently the largest radio telescope in the world, almost twice the size of the Arecibo radio telescope, and these new radio telescopes not only technically surpass the Arecibo radio telescope, but the Arecibo radio telescope has gradually lost its advantage and status.
The Arecibo radio telescope faces financial difficulties and pressures. Since the Arecibo radio telescope is a huge engineering project, it requires a lot of money to maintain and operate. Over the past few decades, however, National Science Foundation funding for the Arecibo radio telescope has decreased.
As a result, the budget of the Arecibo radio telescope was not enough for the necessary repairs and upgrades. Puerto Rico, where the Arecibo radio telescope is located, is an economically difficult and politically unstable area, and it does not receive sufficient support and protection from the local government and society.
These economic difficulties and pressures have left the Arecibo radio telescope in a thorny situation where it cannot maintain normal operation and development. The Arecibo radio telescope faces the threat and impact of natural disasters and man-made sabotage. Since the Arecibo radio telescope is an open-air structure, it is very susceptible to the influence of the natural environment. Over the past few years, Puerto Rico has experienced several powerful hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters that have severely damaged the Arecibo radio telescope. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, damaging the receiver and some mirrors of the Arecibo radio telescope.
The Arecibo radio telescope is also threatened and affected by man-made sabotage. The forest around the Arecibo radio telescope has been cut down and modified, causing damage and pollution to the Arecibo radio telescope observation environment.
These natural disasters and man-made sabotage have greatly reduced the safety and stability of the Arecibo radio telescope and increased the risks and hidden dangers of the Arecibo radio telescope.
conclusion
The Arecibo radio telescope may be gone, but its spirit and value are not. It has inspired generations of scientists to continue exploring the mysteries of the universe, and has inspired generations of the public to pay attention to scientific progress. It tells us that science is humanity's most beautiful goal and humanity's most important wealth.
Science needs to be constantly innovated and evolved, as well as constantly maintained and protected. Let's take the Arecibo radio telescope as a lesson and take the "World Sky Eye" as an example to jointly create another safer and more permanent "World Sky Eye" for mankind. Let's enjoy it together. We can use these "eyes of the world" to see a more beautiful, exciting, more magical, and more real universe.
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