MnAstro Forums

Posted: **Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:32 pm**

Wow. It looks like the structures at the top of each tower just got ripped off.

I suppose now they’ll be able to do a post mortem on the main cables and figure out if they ever met specifications in the first place.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 7:53 am**

Maybe the towers are okay and the dish can be repaired. Less costly than starting from scratch.

Another possible use for big radio dishes, which I read about recently, is as the foundation for an optical interferometer. 300 meters would dwarf any of the giant reflectors currently under construction.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:37 pm**

A few more details of the collapse. Looks like there were earthquake waves which passed through Arecibo (left of green zone, below) followed closely by the collapse of the receiver (noted as "Colapso") which was also picked up by the seismograph.

Oh, and lo siento, no hablo español.

https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/loc ... e-arecibo/
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Arecibo Seismograph.png

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 6:26 pm**

And finally, the collapse caught on video (viewer discretion is advised.)

NSF Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u34uwFOCM-4
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Colapso.png

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:34 pm**

Holy crap! Somebody obviously knew it was about to go to have a drone up there right then. The towers lost a lot more than I thought they did.

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2020 8:59 am**

The Today show had a video showing the cables breaking and the instrument platform crashing to the ground. it was a sad sight to see this iconic telescope self destructing.

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:24 pm**

Could a drone act as a cable-less radio receiver for a large, currently unused, satellite dish?

Posted: **Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:35 pm**

setnes wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:24 pm Could a drone act as a cable-less radio receiver for a large, currently unused, satellite dish?

That’s in very sad shape currently.

Posted: **Sat Dec 05, 2020 7:21 am**

Maybe a tethered balloon? Or a tower at the center? This reminds me of the Green Bank, West Virginia radio telescope that collapsed in 1988. In that case Senator Robert Byrd had enough clout to get it rebuilt. I don't know if Puerto Rico could do the same.

I suppose radio telescopes are engineered with a smaller safety margin than buildings where human life is at stake.

Posted: **Sat Dec 05, 2020 1:47 pm**

The video https://youtu.be/ssHkMWcGat4

Posted: **Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:47 pm**

Deane Clark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:35 pm
setnes wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:24 pm Could a drone act as a cable-less radio receiver for a large, currently unused, satellite dish?
That’s in very sad shape currently.

But even with the square footage that remains, I bet it would still outdo anything you or I could put together!

Posted: **Sat Dec 05, 2020 6:19 pm**

SEmert wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:47 pm
Deane Clark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:35 pm
setnes wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 5:24 pm Could a drone act as a cable-less radio receiver for a large, currently unused, satellite dish?
That’s in very sad shape currently.
But even with the square footage that remains, I bet it would still outdo anything you or I could put together!

I wonder what the neighbors would think if I turned my whole back yard into one parabolic dish.

Posted: **Sun Dec 06, 2020 7:52 am**

Deane Clark wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 6:19 pm
SEmert wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:47 pm
Deane Clark wrote: ↑Fri Dec 04, 2020 6:35 pm
That’s in very sad shape currently.
But even with the square footage that remains, I bet it would still outdo anything you or I could put together!
I wonder what the neighbors would think if I turned my whole back yard into one parabolic dish.

They'd love it if they're skateboarders.

Posted: **Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:02 pm**

Hopefully this doesn’t seem like rubbing salt in a wound. CBS did a piece on the 500m dish in China on 12/24 and I found it interesting that their 30 ton “feed cabin” can be raised and lowered on six sets of cables.
https://youtu.be/dPWmdcAKSFA

Posted: **Tue Jul 20, 2021 7:55 am**

What Really Happened at the Arecibo Telescope?
Engineering discussion video just released.
Practical Engineering YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oBCtTv6yOw

Posted: **Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:39 am**

In December of last year, a documentary was released called The Biggest Dream, chronicling the life of Arecibo:

The loss of the Bill E. Gordon radio telescope has left a void in the world of radio science, the mountains that cradled it, and the hearts of many visitors and enthusiasts who appreciated the beautiful engineering marvel. It’s a difficult time for the scientists and those who grew up seeing the telescope every day in the fields of atmospheric science, planetary science, and Radioastronomy. Experience the legacy of a 57-year journey, from the small island of Puerto Rico to the deepest regions of the galaxy with the world's most powerful telescope.

Here is a link to the trailer: https://youtu.be/TEovDt6eci4

Can't seem to find the movie anywhere. If anyone knows where I could view it, could you let me know?

Posted: **Wed May 11, 2022 5:05 pm**

Ron Schmit wrote: ↑Sun Mar 20, 2022 9:39 am Can't seem to find the movie anywhere. If anyone knows where I could view it, could you let me know?

It looks like they have not yet been able to distribute it beyond a single day of showings at theaters in Puerto Rico. Apparently, they need to raise funds to do that.

Posted: **Tue May 24, 2022 12:17 am**

Seems like the kind of thing that would show up on PBS. I wouldn’t count on a theatrical release.

MnAstro Forums

Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

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Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!

Re: Holy cow! Arecibo just broke!! UPDATE: GAME OVER!