Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 14

KPNO / NOIRLAB / NSF / AURA (2)
Science & Society
Looking Up as the World Burns
The first thing that should worry both
amateur and professional astronomers is
whether a sudden onslaught from nature
will demolish their observatories or
favorite skywatching spots. Storms,
wildfires, and floods are becoming
more frequent and severe, putting
people and facilities at risk.
Severe weather has damaged
numerous observatories. The Arecibo
Observatory in Puerto Rico is a
dramatic example, repeatedly struck by
storms and hurricanes. A recent report
concluded that the damage from Hurricane
Maria in 2017 exacerbated then-unknown
problems with the cables suspending the instrument
platform over the radio dish. Left largely unaddressed, the
cable sockets failed and the platform collapsed, destroying
the dish (see page 8).
Strong winds can also damage observatories. Telescopes
are designed with stringent requirements to withstand the
extreme weather normally expected at their locations, but in
a changing climate, those requirements could become obsolete
within the observatories' lifetimes.
For example, planners designed the prototype Large-Sized
Telescope (LST) of the future Cherenkov Telescope Array
Observatory on the Spanish island of La Palma (S&T: Aug.
2024, p. 12) to resist winds up to 200 km/h (120
mph). The telescope passed a stress test in
2020 when a storm with 170 km/h winds
only tore off a few mirror panels.
However, recent years have seen a
change in the tropical cyclones that
form near the African coast south of
La Palma: An increasing number of
these storms are deviating from their
usual path westward and drifting
more northward. In 2022, Tropical
Storm Hermine took an unprecedented
track due north and came within 300
kilometers (less than 200 miles) of La
Palma, bringing heavy rain and winds to the
island. Wind speeds fell far short of the LST's
design limit, but if north-directed storms become the
norm, the LST could end up experiencing stronger winds in
its 30-year lifespan than it was planned to handle.
Wildfires present another critical threat. In the U.S., the
number of fires tripled in the 2000s compared with the previous
two decades. In 2020, California alone suffered more
than 8,000 fires, fueled by extreme drought. That year, Lick
Observatory on Mount Hamilton narrowly escaped destruction,
the encroaching flames requiring personnel and nearby
residents to evacuate. In Arizona, firefighters saved telescopes
on Mount Graham from destruction in 2017, while the 2022
Contreras Fire on Kitt Peak razed several support buildings.
KITT PEAK Views from the 4-meter Mayall Telescope
on Kitt Peak show the 2022 Contreras Fire threatening
the observatory.
14 MARCH 2025 * SKY & TELESCOPE

Sky & Telescope - March 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - March 2025

Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover1
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover2
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 1
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Contents
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 3
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 4
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 5
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 6
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 7
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 8
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 9
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 10
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 11
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 12
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 13
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 14
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 15
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 16
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 17
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 18
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 19
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 20
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 21
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 22
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 23
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 24
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 25
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 26
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 27
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 28
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 29
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 30
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 31
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 32
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 33
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 34
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 35
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 36
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 37
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 38
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 39
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 40
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 41
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 42
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 43
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 44
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 45
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 46
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 47
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 48
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 49
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 50
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 51
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 52
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 53
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 54
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 55
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 56
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 57
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 58
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 59
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 60
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 61
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 62
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 63
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 64
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 65
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 66
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 67
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 68
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 69
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 70
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 71
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 72
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 73
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 74
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 75
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 76
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 77
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 78
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 79
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 80
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 81
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 82
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 83
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - 84
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover3
Sky & Telescope - March 2025 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com