China will use its astronomical telescope for the first time this summer for foreign astronomers.
The Five Hundred Meters Spherical Radio Telescope of the Diaphragm (FAST) is the world’s largest single-disc radio observatory, used to detect cosmic phenomena and search for extraterrestrial life.
It is one of the only ‘Sky Eyes’ left after the dismantling and collapse of Arecibo Observatory’s 1000-foot radio telescope in December.
Scientists from China and abroad can submit online applications from 1 April to use FAST at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC).
A timetable will be announced from August 1, with about 10 percent of the observation life allocated to outsiders, state-run Xinhua News reports.
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Five Hundred Meters Diaphragm Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the world’s largest single-disc radio observatory, will welcome foreign astronomers for the first time from August
FAST is built into a natural sinkhole in Pingtang in the southwestern province of Guizhou, with a unique design using metal panels that can be tilted to change their focus area.
Construction began in 2011 and observations began in 2016, although FAST was not officially opened until 11 January 2020.
To date, its systems have recorded at least 240 pulses, 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 constellation.
So far, its systems have recorded at least 240 pulsars, including a ‘millisecond pulsar’ that rotates 18,990 rotations per minute.
FAST was built into a natural sinkhole in Pingtang County in southwestern Guizhou Province of China. Construction began in 2011 and observations began in 2016, although the observatory was only officially opened on January 11, 2020
According to Engadget, it rotates at 18,990 rotations per minute, much faster than typical.
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 receiving radar astronomy.
FAST’s basic design is similar to the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico, although FAST can scan the area twice and deliver readers that are three to five times more sensitive.
The Arecibo Observatory was shut down in November due to safety concerns over two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope collapsed.
FAST is significantly deeper than the folded telescope, which contributes to a wider field of view.
It can scan twice the area that Arecibo could and deliver readings that are three to five times more sensitive.
The Arecibo Observatory was shut down in November due to safety concerns over two broken cables. Two weeks later, on December 1, Arecibo’s main telescope collapsed
The U.S. National Science Foundation initially said it would dismantle the Arecibo Observatory, but the Puerto Rican government has pledged $ 8 million to help rebuild it sooner.
According to Li Di, chief scientist at NAOC, FAST’s public mission is driven by the desire to better understand humanity’s place in the universe, something that is ‘as complex as feeding and dressing oneself’.
“Ultimately, the investigation into 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 end 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 outside 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 the foreign life the team would like to explore.
The $ 269 million facility will also collect data on black holes, gas clouds and galaxies in the distance.