China is allowing foreign astronomers to use its 1,600-foot radio telescope for the first time this summer.
The 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) is the world’s largest single-disc radio observatory, used for spotting cosmic phenomena and searching for extraterrestrial life.
It is one of the few ‘Sky Eyes’ left after the decommissioning and collapse of Arecibo Observatory’s 300-foot radio telescope in December.
Scientists from home and abroad can apply online from April 1 to use FAST at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC).
Starting Aug. 1, a timetable will be made public, allocating about 10 percent of those observation slots to outsiders, Xinhua News reports by the state.
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500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the world’s largest single-disc radio observatory, welcomes foreign astronomers for the first time from August
Built into a natural sinkhole at Pingtang in the southwestern Guizhou province of China, FAST features a unique design with metal panels that can be tilted to change their area of focus.
Construction began in 2011 and the observations began in 2016, although FAST was not officially opened until January 11, 2020.
To date, the systems have recorded at least 240 pulsars, starting with PSR J1859-01 and PSR J1931-02 in August 2017.
One of the more unusual was a millisecond pulsar in the Messier 92 star cluster.
To date, systems have recorded at least 240 pulsars, including a ‘millisecond pulsar’ spinning 18,990 revolutions per minute
FAST is built into a natural sinkhole in Pingtang Province in China’s southwestern Guizhou Province. Construction began in 2011 and sightings began in 2016, although the observatory was not officially opened until January 11, 2020
It’s spinning at an astonishing 18,990 revolutions per minute, Engadget reported, much faster than normal.
FAST’s basic design is similar to the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico, although Arecibo was able to receive higher frequencies and was capable of radar astronomy.
FAST’s basic design is similar to Puerto Rico’s Arecibo telescope, although FAST can scan twice the area and deliver readers three to five times more sensitive
The Arecibo Observatory was decommissioned in November after concerns about the safety of two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope collapsed.
FAST is significantly deeper than the collapsed telescope, which contributes to a wider field of view.
It is able to scan the area of Arecibo twice and provide readings that are three to five times more sensitive.
The Arecibo Observatory was decommissioned in November following safety concerns over two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope collapsed
The US National Science Foundation initially said it would tear down the Arecibo Observatory, but the Puerto Rican government has pledged $ 8 million to help rebuild it.
According to Li Di, NAOC’s chief scientist, FAST’s open-ended mission is driven by a desire to better understand humanity’s place in the universe, something that is “as visceral as feeding and clothe ourselves.”
“Ultimately, exploring the unknown is the nature of humanity,” he told China Daily. “It drives us to a greater future.”
According to the National Astronomical Observatories of China, FAST’s open-ended mission is driven by the desire to better understand humanity’s place in the universe
In September, state media announced that FAST had joined the search for life beyond our planet.
According to Tong-Jie Zhang, an astronomer at Beijing Normal University, there are a number of “interesting” narrowband signals that could be a sign of extraterrestrial life that the team would like to investigate.
The $ 269 million facility will also collect data on black holes, gas clouds, and distant galaxies.