You are bidding on: A Very BIG Telescope!

U.K. radio astronomy telescope for sale on eBay

Budgets are tight everywhere, or maybe our priorities need recalibrating. Here in the U.S., we can't seem to outfit our kids with up-to-date text books. In Britain, they're pulling the plug on the Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The annual up-keep on the radio telescope, pegged at 2.5 million pounds (about $5 million) is simply not to be found. So, the installation has been put up for auction on eBay U.K.

Actually, the auction is really more of a benefit intended to secure sufficient funds to keep the observatory open.

We hope our friends across the Pond summon the resources to keep this great telescope (pictured here from actual eBay listing) open and operating. Just 'cause we're losing our technology edge (we STILL can't seem to figure out how to hold elections in Florida) doesn't mean they have to follow suit.