So basically it was like that bit in the Matrix where Neo first tries to dodge bullets. He doesn't quite make it, but he gets away with a flesh wound instead of a shot to the heart. 15 panels damaged but thousands intact ! I guess the line feed must have hit the surface almost vertically.
No idea what that big grey splodge on the right side of the dish is, though.
Originally shared by Vladimir Pecha
The Arecibo Observatory will be back online as soon as this Friday.
Maria damages some 15 plates of the Observatory of Arecibo
They hope that this Friday they will be able to resume the scientific activities of the installation
Although it is located in one of the highest areas of Arecibo, the hurricane winds of Maria did not cause havoc in the Arecibo Observatory , and as soon as this Friday, scientific activities should be normalized there.
"We had some minor damage ... We were very lucky," said the director of the Observatory's Center for Geospatial Studies, Tony Van Eyken.
He explained that the telescope platform was not damaged, only an antenna that can be repaired was affected.
"Some pieces (of the tower) fell on the surface of the plate, but they are interchangeable plates and you can remove and put a new one," said the official of the observatory Angel Vazquez.
"The damages for what was Hurricane Maria, were minimal," he added.
In total, 15 plate plates were damaged. The maintenance team was already working on these repairs, so the investigations should not have major disadvantages.
"The antenna of the platform that was damaged only affects one of the branches of science that is done here, which is atmospheric science," said Edgard Rivera Valentin. The doctor stressed that in addition to atmospheric science from the Arecibo Observatory, planetary sciences and radio astronomy are being developed.
https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia/ciencia/nota/mariadanaunas15planchasdelobservatoriodearecibo-2360700/
I guess that's where they replaced some panels?
ReplyDeleteAs Rhys Taylor pointed out, there's still the question of staffing given power outages, possible water issues, and all the other stuff that requires now-damaged infrastructure.
ReplyDeleteThe telescope has its own generators and well, and has been used in the past to supply locals with water during supply interruptions. Of course internet access on site is from the same suppliers as everyone else, so the website is still offline. I expect we'll get the full story from Robert Minchin when it's back and everything stabilises again.
ReplyDelete