Arecibo Observatory collapses
美阿雷西博望远镜坍塌
The instrument platform of the 305-meter telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico collapsed overnight, according to the National Science Foundation.
美国国家科学基金会确认，位于波多黎各的阿雷西博望远镜的设备平台坍塌。阿雷西博望远镜口径305米，是地球上最强大的望远镜之一，坍塌是对它的最后一击。
It's a final blow to one of the most powerful telescopes on Earth that has aided astronomical discoveries for 57 years and withstood hurricanes, earthquakes and tropical storms.
工作57年来，阿雷西博望远镜为众多天文发现提供了帮助，并经受住了飓风、地震和热带风暴的考验。
Engineers assessed the damage and determined that all three of the telescope's support towers broke off, sending the 900-ton instrument platform plummeting down to the dish below.
工程师已评估了损坏情况，确定望远镜的三个支撑塔全部断裂，重达900吨的设备平台坠落到下面的碟形反射盘上。
The telescope's support cables also dropped.
此外，望远镜的支撑钢缆也已断裂。
The collapse occurred just weeks after NSF announced that the telescope would be decommissioned and disassembled through a controlled demolition after sustaining irreparable damage earlier this year.
几周前，美国国家科学基金会宣布，阿雷西博望远镜在今年早些时候遭受了无法修补的损毁，将被关闭并以可控方式拆除。
