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Puerto Rico commits $8 million to rebuild Arecibo telescope
Puerto Rico has approved $8 million to help rebuild the Arecibo Observatory telescope, although it will likely need considerably more help.
NSF offers a closer look at how the Arecibo Observatory collapsed
The trouble at Arecibo began this August, when one of the auxiliary cables supporting the receiver platform slipped out of its socket atop Tower 4, one of the telescope's main support struts. Once free, the cable struck Arecibo's reflector dish, leaving behind a gash about 100 feet long.
Recent damage to the Arecibo telescope could keep it offline for months
It could take months to repair Arecibo Observatory, the second-largest radio telescope in the world.
Puerto Rico’s Arecibo radio telescope suffers serious damage
A broken cable damaged the Arecibo Observatory, the second-largest radio telescope in the world.
Arecibo Observatory nets $19 million grant to search for dangerous asteroids
NASA has ensured the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico can continue its search for near Earth objects (NEOs) that pose a threat to the planet with a $19 million grant. The fund was awarded to the University of Central Florida, which operates the observatory on behalf of the National Science Foundation.
Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory saved from uncertain fate
Arecibo Observatory, which is the second-largest radio telescope in the world, is under new management. A group led by the University of Central Florida will take over the operations of the telescope from the National Science Foundation, which was considering shutting down the observatory.
Hurricane Maria wreaks havoc on Arecibo radio telescope
Puerto Rico is suffering on an unimaginable scale in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Many have been displaced from their homes, and the entire territory may go without electricity and reliable communication for months. And while the human tragedy is clearly the most important concern, it's also having a terrible effect on the scientific community. Researchers have learned that the Arecibo Observatory and its signature radio telescope took significant damage when the hurricane passed over. All staff members are thankfully safe for now, but an atmospheric radar line feed and a 39-foot dish (used for Very Long Baseline Interferometry) were lost in winds that reached up to 155MPH. The gigantic central dish is intact, although the line feed's collapse punctured it in places.
The Arecibo radio telescope is in trouble again
Unfortunately, the Arecibo Observatory's iconic radio telescope is facing an uncertain future once again... and there's only a short amount of time for you to have a say in its fate. The National Science Foundation is considering a number of options for the space-centric facility, including either putting its operations in the hands of partners or shutting it down entirely. It's holding public meetings today (June 7th) and accepting written comments until June 23rd to discuss the "environmental impact" of its options, but there's a good chance that the conversation will revolve around the telescope's survival.
Save Arecibo: because aliens don't do voicemail
The folks at SETI@home have put out a desperate plea for the community to bust out those quill pens and start writing strongly-worded letters to congress persons. Apparently the Arecibo Observatory, the world's largest radio telescope and SETI@home's data source, is being threatened with some massive budget cuts. Given that a replacement for Arecibo won't be online until 2020 at best, folks are understandably upset. Turns out Arecibo is also one of the best shots we have at detecting an earth-threatening asteroid before it's too late and we have to sit through another Elijah Wood movie on the subject. You know what you have to do.[Thanks, Brian]
