‘Sad day for radio astronomy’: Arecibo Observatory to shut down

Gerald · 11-20-20, 08:22 PM

Quote:

ANU Cosmologist Dr Brad Tucker says the 305-metre Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico will be shut down after almost six decades.

“It’s had a bad run, it got hit bad by the hurricane that hit in Puerto Rico in 2017, there was obviously the earthquake in 2019 and overtime the fatigue has meant that a couple of key components that keep this dish up have broken.”

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6211097874001

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecibo_Observatory

'Six decades impressive I knew it had been in use for a long time but not that the tracks went back to the late 1950s.

Buddahaid · 11-20-20, 08:55 PM

Even James Bond used it....

Jimbuna · 11-21-20, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Even James Bond used it....

GoldenEye

Skybird · 11-21-20, 06:36 AM

Iconic place and name, like "Space Shuttle".

Gerald · 12-03-20, 03:32 PM

Puerto Rico: The moment the Arecibo Observatory telescope collapsed

Quote:

Video footage shows the moment that one of the world's largest telescopes collapsed at Puerto Rico's Arecibo Observatory in on Tuesday.
No injuries were reported from the collapse.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-55181448

Platapus · 12-03-20, 06:03 PM

With current technology and by using state of the art distributed aperture designs, can the same data be obtained without the expense of a monolithic aperture?

Arecibo was cool. Very cool. But it was old cool. While it had been upgraded several times, there is only so much new technology that can be applied to that type of fixed aperture.

11-20-20, 08:55 PM	#2
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 8,557 Downloads: 160 Uploads: 0	Even James Bond used it.... __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

11-21-20, 06:36 AM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,494 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Iconic place and name, like "Space Shuttle". __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

12-03-20, 06:03 PM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 18,951 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	With current technology and by using state of the art distributed aperture designs, can the same data be obtained without the expense of a monolithic aperture? Arecibo was cool. Very cool. But it was old cool. While it had been upgraded several times, there is only so much new technology that can be applied to that type of fixed aperture. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.