Last month the National Science Foundation announced plans to eventually decommission Puerto Rico’s Arecibo radio telescope in the near future due to structural weaknesses. Earlier this week the structure did indeed collapse:
The instrument platform of the 305m telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell overnight. No injuries were reported. NSF is working with stakeholders to assess the situation. Our top priority is maintaining safety. NSF will release more details when they are confirmed. pic.twitter.com/Xjbb9hPUgD
— National Science Foundation (@NSF) December 1, 2020
Today is a tragic day for astronomy, science and for humanity. The Arecibo telescope's platform collapsed this morning, marking the end of any hope for its repair. I wrote about the pain of decommission, but this hurts so much more. @FutureTenseNow https://t.co/LAEf0mKUIp
— Shannon Festivus Stirone ? (@shannonmstirone) December 1, 2020
The NSF released some video of the collapse today:
New dramatic drone footage shows the moment support cables holding up the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico snapped, sending the famous observatory that had been in operation since the 1960s crashing to the ground. https://t.co/uNw9oCH6U1 pic.twitter.com/clMKa8wshH
— ABC News (@ABC) December 3, 2020
Stunning video of the moment the Arecibo Observatory telescope platform collapsed and smashed into the dish:
via @NSF: https://t.co/5b56OWBjPW pic.twitter.com/WCUyY66hsv
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 3, 2020
Recommended
Here's the view from a drone at the top of one of the Arecibo towers that was monitoring the condition of the support cables: pic.twitter.com/VOcZEWQ6wK
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) December 3, 2020
NSF has released drone footage of the Arecibo collapsehttps://t.co/DfGfXLlh7S pic.twitter.com/ODFGqeR079
— Loren Grush (@lorengrush) December 3, 2020
From ABC News:
The telescope collapsed Tuesday morning after showing signs of extreme weakness. The radio-telescope had already suffered major damages after a cable that helped support the 900-ton platform hanging at 450 feet above the dish broke in August. Weeks later, a second cable gave in, putting the telescope at greater risk.
Initial findings show that the top of all three support towers holding the platform ripped, dropping the instrument to the 1,000-foot-wide reflector dish, according to the National Science Foundation.
The dish below was heavily damaged:
No words. #Arecibo Observatory 1960-2020
Photo Credit: @noticel pic.twitter.com/MI6VWBJoYQ
— Antonio Paris (@AntonioParis) December 1, 2020
Wow.
Holy shit these videos https://t.co/sxjSY6toqj
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) December 3, 2020
dayum!
— DaveinTexas (@DaveinTexas) December 3, 2020
This is one of the saddest things I've ever seen. https://t.co/wRsCmuJQ5I
— Tom Hurst ? (@Eaglekeeper0048) December 3, 2020
Sad day indeed, hopefully there will be efforts for a new project with improved tech. ?
— Leviathan Space Industries (@leviathan_space) December 3, 2020
Heartbreaking. I so so hope Arecibo will be rebuilt. https://t.co/36t7aan3Ew
— uǝuᴉʇɥǝl ᴉɹɐlᴉ (@dekalogue) December 3, 2020
There is now a push to rebuild the observatory, according to a report.