Arecibo Observatory - Puerto Rico

Arecibo Observatory is set in the karst hills of the northwest portion of Puerto Rico and is home to the world's largest radio telescope. A sinkhole set between the mogotes (small hills) houses the 20-acre dish for the telescope. The telescope is a fixed receiver which does not rotate or move. The transmitting and receiving equipment is suspended about 500 feet above the telescope by a network of cables. There is a museum on premise that provides in-depth well-explained explanations for astronomical and atmospherical phenomenon.Arecibo is responsible for the discovery of planets outside our solar system, but is most famous in mainstream society as the location for several movies including Contact with Jodie Foster and James Bond's Golden Eye.

Open: Wednesday - Friday 12:00 - 4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.