Wired Science - Wired Blogs

Wired Science - Wired Blogs

The world's biggest radio telescope, the Arecibo facility in Puerto Rico – is in danger of being closed for lack of funds, the Washington Post reported this weekend.

...The facility, a dish 1000 feet in diameter in the middle of the forest, continues to make substantial contributions to astronomical science. It serves as an important home for "space weather" readings, such s. According to the Post article, it's the only facility able to make observations of asteroids detailed enough to tell whether they'll actually hit Earth.

You'd think that alone would be enough for policymakers to cough up a few extra bucks, right? But maybe it's more important to start saving up for another war.