Jodrell Bank Observatory, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed radio telescope site in Cheshire that has operated for 70 years, faces closure within months after losing its funding, prompting anger from scientists. The facility, one of Britain's most recognisable space research and visitor attractions, has been central to decades of astronomical discovery and public engagement with science, and its potential closure has raised concerns about the future of UK radio astronomy and heritage science tourism.

The observatory's iconic Lovell Telescope and associated visitor centre have drawn researchers and tourists alike since the 1950s, and its UNESCO status recognises its historic and scientific significance. Scientists have reacted with fury to the funding loss, warning that the closure could end seven decades of continuous operation and jeopardise ongoing research, though the article does not specify the exact source or scale of the funding shortfall.