By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
I agree
Search Trends
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
SITEMAP
Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
The main antenna of China's 40-meter-aperture radio telescope is installed in Shigatse, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, October 4, 2024. /CMG
The main antenna of China's 40-meter-aperture radio telescope was hoisted and installed on Friday in Shigatse, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
Developed by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the basic construction of the fully movable, high-precision, multi-purpose telescope is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024, with an initial observation capability in early 2025.
The radio telescope is built about 35 kilometers to the west of Shigatse's city center, at an altitude of about 4,100 meters where electromagnetic wave interference is limited.
Upon completion of the construction, the telescope will be included in a very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) network in China that is comprised of radio telescope stations located across the country and a VLBI data processing center under SHAO to help support the country's deep-space exploration.
VLBI is a technique that measures the time difference between the arrivals at multiple Earth-based antennas, thus simulating a virtual telescope with a size equal to the maximum separation between the telescopes.
The VLBI network will link radio telescopes scattered across the country to form a giant hyper high-precision synthesis aperture radio telescope, offering technical support for lunar and planetary exploration and manned lunar landing missions for China in the future.