October 8, 2024
China’s massive FAST radio telescope gets even bigger (video)

China’s massive FAST radio telescope gets even bigger (video)

China has begun a second phase of construction to improve the capabilities of what is already the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope.

The Spherical telescope with an aperture of five hundred meters (FAST), located in a karst area in Guizhou, southwest China, has been operational since January 2020. But now a second phase will add 24 new movable radio telescopes, each with a diameter of 40 meters. Construction officially began on September 25, the eighth anniversary of FAST’s completion.

This expansion, called the FAST Core Array, aims to take advantage of the “quiet” electromagnetic environment within a 5-kilometer radius of the telescope, according to China Central Television (CCTV). The location was originally chosen because of the remoteness and natural topography of the area. When combined into an array, the new telescopes will improve resolution and detection capabilities.

The Five Hundred Meter Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Guizhou Province in southwestern China. (Image credit: NAO/FAST)

The plan aims to allow scientists to conduct deeper research in several areas, including gravitational wave events, fast radio bursts, supernovae and tidal disruptions caused by black holes.

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