More Than Meets the Eye -- Exploring the Invisible Universe

作为世界上最大的单碟射电望远镜，波多黎各的阿雷西博天文台每年吸引成千上万的游客，他们来自不同的国家，不同的年龄。对阿雷西博天文台的自豪感促使波多黎各当地组织捐助了建造新的阿雷西博天文台游客和教育设施所需的资金。康奈尔大学代表国家天文学和电离层中心向NSF-ISE申请了774,463美元，为期两年，用于开发和实施展览和教育计划，这将使教育设施焕发生机。在设施内，我们建议建立一个以“超越视觉”为主题的教育项目，这将反映出我们可以用扩展我们直接感官体验的工具来研究我们的世界的总体理念。这个计划将探索看不见的天空，尤其是射电望远镜可以观测到的天体。具体来说，该计划将向游客介绍电磁频谱作为一种探索手段，将提供基础天文学和大气科学的框架，并将提供对阿雷西博射电望远镜功能和操作的理解。阿雷西博在射电天文学、太阳系雷达天文学和大气科学领域的一些最令人兴奋的新发现将被展示，以便参观者可以体验科学的动态本质。* * *

As the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico attracts thousands of visitors each year, of all ages and from many countries. Pride in the Observatory has caused local Puerto Rican organizations to contribute the funds necessary for the construction of the new Arecibo Observatory Visitor and Educational Facility. Cornell University, in behalf of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, is requesting $774,463 form the NSF-ISE over a two year period to develop and implement the exhibits and educational programs which will give life to the Educational Facility. Within the facility, we propose establishing an educational program centered on the theme "More Than Meets the Eye", which will reflect the general idea that we can study our world with tools which extend our direct sensory experience. The proposed program will explore the unseen sky and, in particular, the objects that fall under the scrutiny of a radio telescope. Specifically, the program will introduce the visitors to the electromagnetic spectrum as a means of exploration, will offer a framework of basic astronomy and atmospheric science, and will provide understanding of the function and operation of the Arecibo radio telescope. Some of Arecibo's most exciting new discoveries in the fields of radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy and astomospheric science will be presented so that visitors can experience the dynamic nature of science. ***