$100-million telescope closed down due to Hurricane Maria
Puerto Rico-based Arecibo Observatory, housing the world's second largest radio telescope, has shut operations to safeguard the $100-million facility against Hurricane Maria. The storm, with wind speeds of over 140 kmph, also led to the shutdown of its website and phone lines. The 300-metre dish was used to discover the first exoplanets and detect organic molecules in a distant galaxy.