The Holmdel Horn, a cosmic shrine in New Jersey, remains standing

A radio telescope that discovered evidence of the Big Bang in 1964 and revolutionized the study of the universe will remain in its original location on Crawford Hill in Holmdel, NJ, city officials announced last week.

Rakesh Antala, a real estate developer, had proposed building a senior living center on the site, a plan that was opposed by residents and distant astronomy enthusiasts. But an agreement between city officials and Mr. Antala seemed to portend the end of the cosmic controversy.

The Holmdel Horn Antenna, as it is known, was built in 1959 by AT&T Bell Laboratories, the renowned research arm of the telephone company, for an experiment called Project Echo, which involved relaying messages by bouncing microwaves off giant aluminized balloons.

In 1964, two young astronomers, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, were plagued by an omnidirectional hiss while surveying the night sky for their own research. The static electricity was eventually identified as the leftover heat from the Big Bang. Its existence provided compelling evidence that the universe had begun with a massive explosion; Since then, astrophysicists have been studying this radiation in search of clues to the how and why of the Big Bang.

Dr. Penzias and Dr. Wilson won the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics and the Holmdel Antenna was designated a National Historic Landmark.

But the location of the horn has recently come into question. An ownership odyssey began in 1984, after AT&T was broken up into the so-called Baby Bells. Bell Labs eventually became Lucent and then Alcatel-Lucent, which was bought by Nokia.

In 2020, Nokia sold its last remaining piece of the former Bell Labs complex in Holmdel – 43 hectares including Crawford Hill, including the antenna – to Crawford Hill Holdings LLC, led by Mr Antala, a former Bell Labs administrator and serial entrepreneur .

A coalition of conservation and community groups opposed the development due to concerns that this could result in the antenna being moved to another part of the hill or elsewhere. It cited the need to preserve open space and protect the antenna.

Coalition members deface the town of Holmdel with “Keep the horn antennasigned and circulated a petition urging the preservation of the antenna and its surroundings, eventually collecting 8,000 signatures from 49 states and 60 countries.

Dr. Wilson, who lives in Holmdel, addressed the controversy in a recent interview.

“I would like it to stay where it is,” he said, noting that the antenna would need to be protected from vandals and storms. “And I think the idea of ​​turning it into a park is a good idea.”

In August, the Holmdel Township Committee took the first steps toward acquiring at least a portion of the hill, including the antenna, citing “growing public support for the preservation of the Crawford Hill property.”

Under a memorandum of understanding signed Oct. 12, the city will pay $5.5 million for 35 acres, including the land on which the telescope sits, and leave the rest for Mr. Antala to develop. The city wants to turn that part of the hill into a park, possibly with a visitor center.

“This breakthrough will allow future generations to observe the Horn Antenna, a National Historic Landmark in Holmdel, as well as the impressive views that can be observed from the highest point in Monmouth County, all as part of an expansive 35-acre public space. park,” Holmdel Mayor Domenico Luccarelli said in a statement to Patch, a local online newsletter.

In a separate statement, Mr Antala said: “As with all negotiated settlements, no one gets exactly what they want. But as we insisted from the beginning of the process, the horn antenna would be retained on site and a significant portion of the site would remain open space – which is exactly what was agreed to with the city.

Reached by email after the announcement, Mr Antala said: “We are pleased that both sides are working to resolve the issue, which is moving in the right direction.”

The coalition of groups that had opposed Mr. Antala’s plan — Citizens for Informed Land Use, Preserve Holmdel and Friends of Holmdel Open Space — praised the agreement but said in a statement that they would remain vigilant: “This recent action of the Holmdel Township Committee highlights the progress that can be made when local governments are willing to listen and work with residents.”