Arecibo was our best tool for tracking near-Earth asteroids... which we need to do. (Reply #30)

In the discussion thread: Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope collapses; many mourning [View all]

Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Tue Dec 1, 2020, 12:58 PM

30. Arecibo was our best tool for tracking near-Earth asteroids... which we need to do.

Arecibo was not just a telescope, but a radar dish. With radar we could accurately measure the distances to solar system objects, and get substantial information about their surfaces. Without those measurements, we cannot plot asteroidal orbits accurately enough to ascertain when there's a threat of collision.

We need to build a new radar facility. But this time, instead of a single giant dish we can make a hundred normal-sized ones working in tandem.

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58 replies	Author	Time	Post
Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope collapses; many mourning [View all]	mahatmakanejeeves	Dec 1	OP
It is a metaphor for Republican commitment to science	Zorro	Dec 1	#1
So true. If god intended Republicans to fly, there wouldn't be any Republicans.	jaxexpat	Dec 1	#6
This message was self-deleted by its author	jaxexpat	Dec 1	#7
We couldn't do maintenance on a national scientific treasure	Chainfire	Dec 1	#2
its been happening for 30 years under a rethug do nothing congress.	AllaN01Bear	Dec 1	#11
THIS X 1000	orangecrush	Dec 2	#47
Damn! Sad beyond words!	lastlib	Dec 1	#3
:(	TommyCelt	Dec 1	#8
Thank you for that important point.	niyad	Dec 1	#15
Stand down now good and faithful servant. Duty done. Thank you.	sarge43	Dec 1	#4
It's gone.	pm_me_grey_paint	Dec 1	#5
What an awful educational loss for children of PR	Submariner	Dec 1	#9
Many years ago I was running Seti@home on a couple of desktops	Arne	Dec 1	#20
Terrific film	PCIntern	Dec 3	#53
: ( all around! The kids, local workers, scientists, human knowledge. I...	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#38
Two of my good friends have worked there.	a la izquierda	Dec 1	#10
Oh, that's so sad! : ( It looked amazing!	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#39
This is how GOP has been making America great again.	IronLionZion	Dec 1	#12
Who's watch was it when the telescope failed? One guess!	usaf-vet	Dec 1	#13
Oh, geeeez, "Trump Years" are so l-o--n---g...	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#40
Was the necessary maintenance not done or not funded? Huge loss.	Evolve Dammit	Dec 1	#14
Because the wall is more important	dalton99a	Dec 1	#16
I maintain that Hurricane Maria basically finished it off structurally	BumRushDaShow	Dec 1	#17
Thanks. -sigh-	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#46
The San Juan Doppler Radar is continually maintained	BumRushDaShow	Dec 2	#49
Woah! That's... intense. A serious case, that you propose.	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#50
OMG. This is heartbreaking, for me because it really says who we are as	Kashkakat v.2.0	Dec 1	#18
That's so sad!	2naSalit	Dec 1	#19
It is 2020	colorado_ufo	Dec 1	#21
Alzheimer's on a national scale. nt	hay rick	Dec 1	#22
Golden Eye - observatory scene	packman	Dec 1	#23
+1	dalton99a	Dec 1	#26
Perhaps ET resented the privacy implications?	BobTheSubgenius	Dec 1	#24
The telescope was essentially the hero of James Gunn's novel, The Listeners...	First Speaker	Dec 1	#25
I wonder if the missing obelisks are tied to this somehow?	intrepidity	Dec 1	#27
Just another in a long line of degradations of American scientific prowess...	Moostache	Dec 1	#28
I heartily second your post	krispos42	Dec 1	#29
Arecibo was our best tool for tracking near-Earth asteroids... which we need to do.	paulkienitz	Dec 1	#30
Arecibo wasn't the only one doing that, though?	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#41
We do have other radar trackers, but they have far less range.	paulkienitz	Dec 3	#52
Oh, wow, that's way less! Wonder what will pick up the slack.	electric_blue68	Dec 3	#57
Time to build a better one... on the dark side of the moon. Space Force! Calling Moon Base Alpha	Baclava	Dec 1	#31
Final collapse may have been triggered by earthquake in Dominican Republic.	SeattleVet	Dec 1	#32
Depressing, but thanks.	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#45
Drone footage - Observatory Collapses Arecibo Puerto Rico	Ptah	Dec 1	#33
I'm sorry if this was already shown, and sorry to show it,	Arne	Dec 3	#54
Here's the YouTube from that article. Thanks, Arne.	Ptah	Dec 3	#55
Found a better pic to show an overhead shot of the collapse	BumRushDaShow	Dec 1	#34
This thing was awe inspiring. I am very glad that I got to see it in its hay day.	littlemissmartypants	Dec 2	#35
How wonderful. Can you post any pics from your visit?	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#42
I wish I could. I went years ago, way before cell phones.	littlemissmartypants	Dec 2	#43
Ah, well. Cool about the Forest, too.	electric_blue68	Dec 2	#44
I really did. ❤ nt	littlemissmartypants	Dec 2	#48
I lived in Puerto Rico	pfitz59	Dec 2	#36
NSF divested the Green Bank radiotelescope, as well	Yeehah	Dec 2	#37
Less radio interference and more to observe from the Southern Hemisphere.	roamer65	Dec 3	#51
Here is NSF video of the moment of collapse (includes drone footage)	BumRushDaShow	Dec 3	#56
That drone footage is amazing. Thanks. NT	mahatmakanejeeves	Dec 3	#58

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