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Jodrell Bank May Close Down

Posted by kdawson on from the not-just-pulsars dept.

Anonymous Astronomer writes "MERLIN, the UK's only radio astronomy facility, is facing closure following the results of a Programmatic Review carried out by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the results of which were announced on Monday. The review placed MERLIN and the upgraded telescope e-MERLIN, due to go online later this year following an investment of £8M, in the low-priority category under serious threat of funding cuts. The upgraded array of telescopes, situated across the UK, will be 30 times more sensitive than the current array and will be a unique facility for observing distant objects and helping us understand the universe. If these cuts go ahead however, not only MERLIN but the entire Observatory including the iconic Lovell telescope, based at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, will be under threat of closure."

5 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. A Scandle (ass candle) by Naughty+Bob · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A pathetic decision, especially considering the relatively tiny cost of maintaining the facility.

    I live an hour or so away, and in addition to the excellent science conducted, it is a magnet for school kids for a hundred miles around, who are pretty much guaranteed a trip to its brilliant, inspirational visitors' center.

    If this closure goes ahead, they are giving up so much to save so little.

    --
    "Be light, stinging, insolent and melancholy"
  2. Awww.... by Aegis+Runestone · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This is sad. Extremely sad. The destruction of the pursuit of knowledge due to money. Now, one may argue that we have lost so much money due to broken down space exploration robots, like a few to Mars, and some Shuttle explosions which also slew the innocent crew inside; however, observatories, telescopes and other ground-based astronomical projects, if any, should not be undermined or removed by money.

    I agree with one the posters about volunteer work. If people love the project enough, this is their chance to get it by supporting MERLIN.

    --
    -Aegis Runestone-
  3. No Surprise... by owlnation · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Since Tony Blair's election, the UK has firmly and clearly been headed straight for a new Dark Ages. This is just another sign of the impending apocalypse.

    The fat, retarded, drunken, violent UK youth of today will have no need of telescopes in the future -- other than to spy on each other, of course.

    If you are a scientist, if you have a brain, make plans to leave the UK -- it's your only hope.

    1. Re:No Surprise... by Elky+Elk · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I'm a UK scientist and I'm not leaving because I don't spend all day reading the Daily Mail

  4. Vogon Constructor Fleet by surfinokie · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If Joddrell Bank is closed who's going to fail to detect the Vogon's when they show up?

    --
    Chance 'em.