UK's iconic Jodrell Bank telescope faces axe in science cuts
The Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK faces closure by 2028 after losing its annual funding from the UK Research and Innovation agency. The decision is part of a broader series of budget cuts affecting major astronomy projects, including international collaborations in Hawaii and Chile.
Why it matters
The loss of funding for a historic and scientifically significant site like Jodrell Bank highlights the tension between maintaining legacy research infrastructure and prioritizing modern, commercially-oriented scientific investment.
Image source, Jodrell Bank/Manchester University Image caption, The Lovell telescope has been at the cutting edge of science for nearly 70 years
The Jodrell Bank Observatory, which has housed the UK's largest telescope for nearly 70 years, has lost its funding and could now close, the BBC understands.
The observatory and its network of telescopes have been pivotal to the country's study of distant galaxies and training future astronomers. Scientists have described the decision as "heartbreaking" and "scientifically misguided".
All scientific observations at Jodrell are expected to cease on the 1 April 2028 unless alternative funding can be found.
The funding body, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) agency, is expected to make a statement shortly.
The site was first established in 1945 and pioneered radio astronomy and the study of galaxies beyond our own.
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