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The famous Arecibo Observatory has collapsed. The National Science Foundation (NSF), the agency overseeing the telescope, announced the unfortunate turn of events on Tuesday. At one point during the night, Arecibo’s receiver platform crashed into its iconic 1,000-foot-wide antenna. “The platform crashed unexpectedly,” an NSF spokesperson said The New York Times. The foundation did not say what caused the collapse, which it promised to do once it has more information. However, no one at the site was injured.
The instrument platform of the 305m telescope at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell overnight. No injuries were reported. NSF is working with stakeholders to assess the situation. Our top priority is to maintain security. NSF will release further details when confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Xjbb9hPUgD
– National Science Foundation (@NSF) December 1, 2020
“NSF is saddened by this development. As we move forward, we will look for ways to assist the scientific community and maintain our strong relationship with the people of Puerto Rico, “the agency he said on Twitter.
The collapse of its receiving platform adds another sad chapter to the end of Arecibo. Following two cable failures over the summer on November 19, NSF said it had no choice but to dismantle and dismantle the observatory due to the danger of repairing the facility.
“The decision comes after NSF has evaluated multiple evaluations by independent engineering companies 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, “the agency said at the time.
What I will miss the most is the joy we found at the Observatory. The pure joy of sharing the astronomical discovery with people from all walks of life, something we could do in Arecibo just because it was there. This is why I decided to become an astronomer. #WhatAreciboMeansToMe pic.twitter.com/iiylRxLy8p
– Kevin Ortiz Ceballos 🇵🇷 (@kortizceballos) December 1, 2020
In demolishing Arecibo, NSF said it would try to save as many surrounding structures and structures as possible, while keeping the place as a place of education and learning. It is unclear how this latest development will affect those plans.
As you can imagine, scientists and Puerto Ricans have turned to Twitter to mourn the demise of Arecibo. For most of nearly six decades, the observatory has been a beacon of human knowledge, helping astronomers search for extraterrestrial life and promoting our understanding of the cosmos. With appearances in films such as Golden eye, the structure has also made its way into the popular imagination. At the very least, everyone knows what Arecibo looks like, even if they’ve never been to Puerto Rico.
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