I'm sure you all probably know about this already, but I thought these images are truly stunning.

I hadn't seen that yet Diesel, good find 

Did any of you take the time to read the comments on the article? My GAWD, some people are idiots! No further comment needed or intended.

I on;y read them when I need a good laugh Dave 

Another article on this subject:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21934520

May it rest in peace. Seems a waste to me though. Surely it could do other things or not it would seem.

Some pics on Dr Plaits site.

That image of Betelgeuse was fantastic! Shame about Hershel. Maybe they could have put in something like a "flip sight", where at a given signal, a CCD array (or some other detector) is "flipped" over the bolometers, so that once all the Helium is spent, the scope can still operate, albeit at a lower, less efficient resolution.