Giant radio telescope to close amid collapse fears

Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico (Danica Coto/AP)

The US National Science Foundation has said it will close the huge telescope at the renowned Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, in a blow to scientists worldwide who depend on it to search for planets, asteroids and extra-terrestrial life.

The independent, federally funded agency said it is too dangerous to keep operating the single-dish radio telescope – one of the world’s largest – given the significant damage it recently sustained.