Arecibo Observatory radio telescope decommissioned...

**SteyrAUG** · 11-21-20, 21:08

Ostensibly due to damage suffered from hurricane Maria and two earthquakes, but we all know it is a result of dramatic SETI results.

The NSF announced on November 19, 2020 that it would decommission and dismantle the telescope, while other facilities at the observatory would continue operating.

**utahjeepr** · 11-21-20, 21:49

I read about this. Off the cuff it feels like the loss of a national treasure, but I don't know how much of a loss it actually is. How relevant is it today?

What I read stated that the main cause is that the cables deteriorated over time. Now that cables have started failing it is too dangerous to try to repair it.

Sounds a lot like government "efficiency" in action yet again. But hey it's only taxpayer money.

**Slater** · 11-21-20, 21:51

Maybe it detected VGER on it's way back to Earth.

**Diamondback** · 11-21-20, 22:43

Sad... they just had its starring appearance in GoldenEye on the other night.

**jpmuscle** · 11-22-20, 00:11

With multi network radio telescopes I imagine it’s irrelevant nowadays but it’s disheartening from a cool factor standpoint.

In any case humanity doesn’t deserve the stars ...

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**Diamondback** · 11-22-20, 00:42

Originally Posted by jpmuscle

With multi network radio telescopes I imagine it’s irrelevant nowadays but it’s disheartening from a cool factor standpoint.

In any case humanity doesn’t deserve the stars ...

If I'm ET, I order this entire star system quarantined along with everything between here and Alpha Centauri.

**Averageman** · 11-22-20, 08:39

Once they decommission it, it's going to make a hell of a skateboard park.

**kerplode** · 11-22-20, 12:57

That's a bummer.

I had a work trip to PR in the early 2000's and took a side trip to see Arecibo on a day off. Driving that twisty little road up the mountain and seeing the thing rise out of the jungle as I got closer was pretty damn impressive.