UPDATE: The Arecibo Telescope collapsed
10 days ago, it was announced that the radio telescope would be decommissioned and de-assembled. But at 2pm UK time on the 1st of December, the National Science Foundation shared a post on Twitter indicating that the structure collapsed by itself.
The tweet reads: The instrument platform of the 305m telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico fell overnight. No injuries were reported. NSF is working with stakeholders to assess the situation. Our top priority is maintaining safety. NSF will release more details when they are confirmed.
The platform is a 900-ton assemblage, suspended over the telescope via cables, some of which were already readed obsolete by previous weather events and time. After the latest damage in Novemeber, an engineering report concluded that it was unsafe to maintain the use of the Arecibo telescope and hence the decision to dismantle it was taken. Already then, the safety of workers was prioritised, fortunately the collapse happened in the early hours of the day and no one was injured.
Edit: The NSF released footage of the collapse, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/ssHkMWcGat4
Cover image: Hole in the dish panels, Ricardo Arduengo/AFP
Image credits: Collapsed telescope, Dennis Vasquez