Thursday, April 17, 2025
39.0°F

Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope collapses; many mourning

Dánica Coto | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 4 months AGO
by Dánica Coto
| December 1, 2020 5:06 AM

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A huge radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has long played a key role in astronomical discoveries collapsed on Tuesday, officials said.

The Arecibo Observatory had been shuttered since August after an auxiliary cable snapped and caused a 100-foot gash on the reflector dish. Then a main cable broke in early November, leading the National Science Foundation to declare just weeks later that it planned to close the radio telescope because the damage was too great.

Many scientists and Puerto Ricans mourned the news, with some tearing up during interviews.

It is the second largest radio telescope in the world and had been operating for more than half a century.

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope, already damaged, collapses
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 4 months ago
Cable failures endanger renowned Puerto Rico radio telescope
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 5 months ago
Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope to close in blow to science
Columbia Basin Herald | Updated 4 years, 4 months ago

ARTICLES BY DÁNICA COTO

July 26, 2021 12:09 a.m.

Haitian president's hometown holds funeral amid violence

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) — The funeral for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was briefly interrupted Friday by nearby gunfire and tear gas as well as agitated supporters that caused U.S. and U.N. officials to leave before his widow spoke publicly for the first time since the attack.

July 25, 2021 12:09 a.m.

Haitian president's hometown holds funeral amid violence

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) — The funeral for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was briefly interrupted Friday by nearby gunfire and tear gas as well as agitated supporters that caused U.S. and U.N. officials to leave before his widow spoke publicly for the first time since the attack.

July 24, 2021 12:09 a.m.

Haitian president's hometown holds funeral amid violence

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) — The funeral for slain Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was briefly interrupted Friday by nearby gunfire and tear gas as well as agitated supporters that caused U.S. and U.N. officials to leave before his widow spoke publicly for the first time since the attack.