China's gigantic telescope provides nearly 900 observation hours to foreign researchers
GUIYANG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the world's largest single-dish and most sensitive radio telescope, has received applications from 15 foreign countries and approved a total of nearly 900 hours of observation access for foreign research teams since March 31, 2021.
According to Sun Chun, engineer in charge of measurement and control of the FAST, the 15 countries include Germany, Italy and France, and the applications mainly involve fast radio burst observations, pulsar observations, and neutral hydrogen surveys.
Having earned a doctorate in pulsar astrophysics at the University of Manchester, British astronomer Ralph Eatough works as a pulsar astronomer at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Eatough said opening up the FAST to the world means that now astronomers have the possibility to perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, and that a prime example is the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
Jiang Peng, chief engineer of the FAST, said that in order to maintain the telescope's leading position in the world, his team will make every effort to ensure that the FAST becomes even more stable and efficient.
Currently, the annual observation time of the telescope is about 5,300 hours, and it plays an important role in the continuous output of scientific research achievements.
Located in a deep and round karst depression in southwest China's Guizhou Province, the FAST officially opened to international scientists on March 31, 2021.
(Editor:Fu Bo)
Related articles
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
JERUSALEM (AP) — The helicopter crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country’s foreig2024-05-21Sabrina Carpenter shows off her toned frame in sizzling new campaign for Marc Jacobs
Sabrina Carpenter followed up the splash she made on the Met Gala carpet with boyfriend Barry Keogha2024-05-21House quickly rejects motion to oust Speaker Johnson
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene tried and failed in sudden action Wednesday t2024-05-21Mariners send starting pitcher Hancock to Triple
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Seattle Mariners sent starting pitcher Emerson Hancock to Triple-A Tacoma and2024-05-21- The 'real-life Martha' from Baby Reindeer bombarded Sir Keir Starmer with almost 300 emails, it has2024-05-21
Sydney Sweeney will play history
Sydney Sweeney will play boxer Christy Martin in a biopic directed by filmmaker David Michôd.The bio2024-05-21
atest comment