READ MORE . This is their first trip to Arecibo, and they re still gasping at the size of the antenna. We get a lot of visitors to the control room, most of them excited by the prospect of seeing history in the making. Theysavor the thought of being onboard the Santa Maria as the New World quietly edges over the western horizon. READ MORE .
Telescopes usually outlast their builders.
They re expensive, after all, which discourages thoughts of early disposal. California s famed Palomar telescope, with its insouciant art deco dome, is more than a half-century old. Long in the tooth, yes. That s because, like computer programs and frequent fliers, telescopes are routinely upgraded. Most telescopes whether optical or radio sport a parabolic reflector or mirror.