China will allow foreign astronomers to use its 1,600-foot radio telescope for the first time this summer.
The five hundred meter spherical telescope (FAST) is the largest single-disc radio observatory in the world, used to detect cosmic phenomena and search for extraterrestrial life.
It is one of the only “Sky Eyes” left after the decommissioning and collapse of the Arecibo Observatory’s 1,000-foot radio telescope in December.
Scientists from China and abroad can apply online for the use of FAST at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) starting April 1.
A calendar will be made public starting August 1, with about 10 percent of those observation slots allocated to outsiders, Xinhua News reports.
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The five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST), the world’s largest single-disc radio observatory, will welcome foreign astronomers for the first time since August
FAST is embedded in a natural pit in Pingtang, southwest China, Guizhou Province, with a unique design that uses metal panels that can be tilted to change its focus area.
Construction began in 2011 and observations began in 2016, although FAST was not officially opened until January 11, 2020.
So far, its systems have recorded at least 240 pulsars, starting with PSR J1859-01 and PSR J1931-02 in August 2017.
One of the most unusual was a “millisecond pulsar” in the Messier 92 star cluster.
To date, its systems have recorded at least 240 pulses, including a “millisecond pulsar” that rotates at 18,990 revolutions per minute.
FAST is incorporated into a natural pit in Pingtang County, southwest China, Guizhou Province. Construction began in 2011 and observations began in 2016, although the observatory was not officially opened until January 11, 2020.
It spins at an astonishing speed of 18,990 per minute, Engadget reported, much faster than typical.
The basic design of FAST is similar to the Puerto Rico Arecibo Telescope, although Arecibo could 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 the area twice and deliver readers that are three to five times more sensitive.
The Arecibo Observatory was decommissioned in November due to safety concerns related to two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope crashed.
FAST is significantly deeper than the collapsed telescope, contributing to a wider field of view.
It is able to scan twice the surface that Arecibo could and deliver readings three to five times more sensitive.
The Arecibo Observatory was decommissioned in November due to safety concerns related to two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope crashed
The US National Science Foundation initially said it would demolish the Arecibo Observatory, but the Puerto Rican government has promised $ 8 million to help rebuild it.
According to Li Di, NAOC’s chief scientist, FAST’s open mission is driven by a desire to better understand humanity’s place in the universe, something that is “as visceral as our food and clothing.”
“Ultimately, exploring the unknown is the nature of mankind,” he told China Daily. “It leads us to a greater future.”
According to China’s National Astronomical Observatories, FAST’s open mission is driven by a desire to better understand humanity’s place in the universe.
In September, the 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 wants to investigate.
The $ 269 million facility will also collect data on black holes, gas clouds and distant galaxies.