Budget cuts are threatening the Arecibo Observatory, home of the world’s largest single-aperture telescope. Arecibo is important because it provides a lot of basic science research, including providing the source data for the SETI@home project. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a key resource for identifying and tracking asteroids that pose an impact risk for the Earth.
The Arecibo Observatory operates on just $12.5m annually. Shuttle missions weigh in at $400m each. Arecibo may not be sexy (except when it’s in Bond films), but it is important.
Senate Bill S. 2862 and House Resolution H.R. 3737 aim to provide funding for the Arecibo Observatory. Please consider contacting Senators Brown and Voinovich, as well as your Representative, to let them know that funding Arecibo is a great investment of our tax dollars.
Budget Watch
