Britain's historic Jodrell Bank Observatory is at risk of closure after losing its core government funding.
All scientific observations are scheduled to cease on April 1, 2028, unless alternative financial support is secured.
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UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has stripped the observatory of its $3.6 million (£2.8 million) annual budget.
The agency is shifting resources toward initiatives expected to yield immediate commercial applications, job creation, and new industries.
The decision threatens 28 local jobs at the Cheshire facility. It also directly impacts nearly 3,000 international researchers who rely on its radio astronomy capabilities.
The cuts also eliminate UK participation in Hawaii's James Clark Maxwell Telescope. Funding for the Vera Rubin Telescope in Chile will be reduced by 20 percent.
Leadership and Scientists React
Prof Simon Garrington, associate director of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, expressed deep concern.
"It's not just because of the fantastic science that we do, but Jodrell Bank and its telescope network [have been] a national capability for nearly 70 years and a beacon for science in the north-west [of England]," he said.
Observatory officials confirmed they intend to formally challenge the funding withdrawal. They are simultaneously searching for alternative revenue streams to keep the primary telescope operational.
"It is a huge hill to climb to try to establish a new way to fund this if UKRI will not fund any of it," Garrington added.
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