Huge Puerto Rican radio telescope, already damaged, collapses

© Provided by The Canadian Press

ARECIBO, Puerto Rico – A massive radio telescope already damaged in Puerto Rico that has played a key role in astronomical discoveries for more than half a century has completely collapsed. The telescope’s 900-ton receiving platform fell onto the reflector antenna on Tuesday more than 400 feet below. The National Science Foundation of the United States had earlier announced that the Arecibo observatory would be closed. An auxiliary cable snapped in August, causing a 100-foot gash on the 1,000-foot-wide (305-meter-wide) reflector dish and damaged the receiver platform that was suspended above. Then a main cable broke in early November.

DáNica Coto, The Associated Press