Arecibo Observatory • Gregorian Enclosure

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The receiver enclosure dome of the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope, in Puerto Rico • (Revised July 14, 2013; adding internal framework, platforms & stairs) • Manufactured by Temcor, Inc. • 86-foot diameter • Aluminum construction • Built in 1995, as part of a telescope upgrade, and raised into position on May 16, 1996 • The radio reflector dishes, inside the dome, are arranged as in a Gregorian optical telescope • The dome is, thus, named after James Gregory, first professor of mathematics at the University of Edinburgh • The Gregorian dome contains two reflector dishes (secondary & tertiary; added to model July 11, 2013,) microwave receivers and a powerful radar transmitter • The Gregorian dome assembly hangs 137 meters (450 feet) above the primary reflector dish • The aluminum dome, alone (minus enclosed reflectors & equipment,) weighs 68,000 kilograms (75 tons) • The observatory is currently known as the 'National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center' • Latitude: 18.344116 • Longitude: -66.752683 • South of the town of Arecibo, Puerto Rico #Buckminster #Bucky #Fuller #Geodesic #polyhedra #polyhedron