The iconic Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico was damaged early on August 10, 2020, when a snapped steel cable smashed into one of its antennas. It tore a 30-meter gash in its 307-meter-wide dish. Photo: University of Central FloridaThe three-inch cable fell and also damaged at least six panels in the Gregorian Dome at the observatory. It is not yet clear what caused the cable to break. Operations have been halted for at least two weeks. Photo: Arecibo ObservatoryThe facility is home to one of the most powerful telescopes on the planet and is used by scientists around the world to conduct research in the areas of atmospheric sciences, planetary sciences, radio astronomy and radar astronomy. Photo: iStockArecibo is also home to a team that runs the Planetary Radar Project supported by National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Near-Earth Object Observations Program in its Planetary Defense Coordination Office through a grant awarded to UCF. Photo: iStockThe facility was built 50 years ago and has endured many hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes since then. Photo: Wikipedia