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The reflector of the Arecibo Observatory was damaged by a broken cable.
University of Central Florida
Sad news for the world of astronomy. The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, home to an epic telescopic parabola, is saluting. The observatory suffered severe structural damage when a cable broke in August and the situation only got worse.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Thursday that plans will begin to decommission the 305-meter (1,000-foot) telescope, ending the device’s 57 years of service.
“The decision comes after NSF has evaluated multiple evaluations by independent engineering firms who have found that the telescope structure is at risk of catastrophic failure and that its cables may no longer be able to carry the loads so they were designed, ”NSF said in a statement.
In this image from November 2020, a huge gash is visible in the plate of the Arecibo Observatory.
University of Central Florida
A second cable failed in early November. This was a main cable and it broke and fell into the reflector, damaging both the dish and other nearby cables. The cables were designed to support a 900-ton platform that hangs 450 feet above the plate.
“Each of the structure’s remaining cables now carry more weight than before, increasing the likelihood of another cable failure, which would likely result in the entire structure collapsing,” the University of Central Florida said in a November 13 statement. . UCF manages the facility for the National Science Foundation.
The observatory provided the backdrop for a dramatic fight scene in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye starring Pierce Brosnan. He also appeared in Jodie Foster’s 1997 film Contact. But Arecibo’s true legacy lies in the many scientific discoveries it has made possible. It explored pulsars, expanded our knowledge of Mercury, spotted exoplanets, and found fast radio bursts.
Scientists took to Twitter to mourn the observatory. “This is a huge scientific belly punch. The end of an era”, planetary scientist Tanya Harrison said.
This is a huge scientific belly punch. The end of an era. 😢
I’ll definitely pour one for Arecibo while you watch Contact tomorrow night in memorium. Http://t.co/KWs1AOPzCl
– Dr. Tanya Harrison (@tanyaofmars) November 19, 2020
Field geophysicist Mika McKinnon tweeted, “I’m amazed we’re losing Arecibo. Even if you don’t pay much attention to terrestrial astronomy, you know this telescope from pop culture and movies. It’s a special place.”
I am amazed that we are losing Arecibo.
Even if you don’t pay much attention to terrestrial astronomy, you know this telescope from pop culture and movies. It is a special place. https://t.co/hNYFKI4lcg
– Mika McKinnon (@mikamckinnon) November 19, 2020
The NSF decommissioning plan will focus on the telescope in an effort to preserve the surrounding observatory facilities. “Once all the necessary preparations have been made, the telescope will be subject to controlled disassembly,” the foundation said.
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