Arecibo Observatory Telescope

"On 19 November, NSF decided to decommission the observatory following two cable breaks that put the platform on the brink of collapse. But in the end, it couldn't survive long enough for a controlled demolition."_{22 hours ago}

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/arecibo-telescope-collapses-ending-57-year-run#:~:text=On%2019%20November%2C%20NSF%20decided,enough%20for%20a%20controlled%20demolition.

Bada bing

Bada boom

Realtime video footage of collapse...

https://www.theverge.com/22150330/arecibo-observatory-collapse-drone-footage-video

Its crazy that they had a drone looking at the cable when it came apart.

One might wonder if there is enough value in the data to do a total rebuild?

Probably would cost more than $6 Million Dollars.

Or just let the jungle reclaim the remains after dynamiting anything that might further fall or collapse.

Who was assigned to maintenance?

I believe maintenance was the responsibility of the University of Central Florida. The problem was not the lack of maintenance so much as the destructive power of two hurricanes.

The cost to repair it after the last hurricane was huge. Too much for one University to bear.

At least that is my understanding from the Astronomy articles I have read.

Who was assigned to maintenance?

It lasted 57 years, probably not bad considering earthquakes, hurricanes, and the corrosive effect of warm, salty air in that part of the world.

I don't think I would like to be the maintenance guy. I have too much respect for gravity to enjoy that walk to the top.

Yes it's sad, but there are arrays and newer telescopes that are no doubt better. Had it been built with redundant towers, the crash could have been avoided.

Terrible news. Arecibo and the VLA featured in the movie 'Contact' started a lifelong fascination with radio and radio astronomy for me.

The Arecibo Telescope has been such a major contributor to our knowledge of the universe! I believe that even with the complete collapse, it would still be worthwhile to rebuild it, using current materials and technology.

I have no direct knowledge, but I suspect that a similar capability for the suspended receiving unit, previously over 900 Tons, could be produced today with at least an order of magnitude reduction in mass, possibly even two orders of magnitude less. Such a reduction in supported mass would vastly reduce the strain on those cables and towers.

Of course reducing the suspended mass would decrease the stability, especially in windy conditions, but the images produced by recent mobile cameras of many kinds show that image stabilization is a now a well-developed technology

It would be interesting to see those entities that benefited directly from the site contribute to its repurpose or restoration.

Or have contributed to its upkeep.

It is sad but not the end of the world as a newer bigger one is up and running in China. (of course) 57 years of sitting on laurels is not how you set the pace.

Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope - Wikipedia

But the Red Chinese will turn everything blue!

Excellent reply

I figure they are heading for purple.