Colloquium: Radio astronomy with the Arecibo 305-m telescope: In contemporaneous context
Rev. Mod. Phys. 98, 011004 – Published 31 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/mg21-4kcj
Abstract
Most scientific research begins in the context of the then-contemporary state of knowledge of the field and moves toward a deeper understanding of the subject. This Colloquium presents the Arecibo telescope’s contribution to radio astronomy from the point of view of its contemporary impact and relevance and how that evolved over the 57 years of its long life. Sometimes, serendipitous discoveries at Arecibo and elsewhere brought revolutionary changes to the field. Further, significant upgrades to Arecibo’s reflector, optics, receiving, and data-taking systems helped clear a pathway for a leap ahead. Charting these movements through time and without any claim to completeness, this Colloquium presents a progression through Arecibo’s role in the history of radio astronomy.
