The Economic Times

A Latvian astronomer and his wife drove 190 miles to a secret Soviet ghost town in 1994; found a 600-ton telescope the Russians had poured acid on - adapted the Cold War machine built to spy on the West and listen to the stars

After the retreat of Russian forces from Latvia, a concealed Soviet-era radio telescope came to light. Astronomer Juris Zhagars dedicated his efforts to repairing the damaged equipment for research purposes. Alongside his wife, he revitalized a forsaken structure within the old military zone. Now, this telescope supports international scientific initiatives, focusing on terrestrial measurements and astronomical exploration, thriving as a modernized radio astronomy hub.