Arecibo observations of the frequency of radio flashes from the pulsar at the center of the Crab Nebula (red star in the middle) gave support to the idea that pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars. That discovery strengthened the idea that pulsars are actually rapidly spinning neutron stars, stellar corpses that sweep beams of radio waves around in space like celestial lighthouses ( SN: 1/3/20). But in 1968, Arecibo saw the pulsar at the center of the Crab Nebula flashing every 33 milliseconds - faster than white dwarfs can pulsate. Clocking the Crab Nebula pulsarĪstronomers originally thought that apparently blinking stars called pulsars, discovered in 1967, might be pulsating white dwarf stars ( SN: 4/27/68). But in honor of Arecibo’s 57-year tenure as one of the world’s premier observatories, here are 10 of the telescope’s coolest accomplishments, presented in roughly reverse order of coolness. But on December 1, the 900-metric-ton platform of scientific instruments above the dish came crashing down, demolishing the telescope and spelling the end of Arecibo’s observing days.Īrecibo has made too many discoveries to include in a Top 10 list, so some of its greatest hits didn’t make the cut - like a strange class of stars that appear to turn on and off ( SN: 1/6/17), and ingredients for life in a distant galaxy. Since 1963, this behemoth radio telescope in Puerto Rico has observed everything from space rocks whizzing past Earth to mysterious blasts of radio waves from distant galaxies. The sun has set on the iconic Arecibo telescope.
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