FAST is the largest radio telescope in the world. Several times surpasses the capabilities of the installation, which was receiving the undisputed leader in its category. Chinese construction giant is ready for the first test, and work could begin in September this year. Worth $ 180 million (700 million) equipment has become the most powerful single radiodetekrotem the world of amazing possibilities. Exactly on Sunday, July 3, 2016 solemnly installed last panel antenna. Here’s what can internationally boast Chinese.
FAST, or F ive-hundred-meter A perture S pherical T elescope already in the coming months will pass a series of rigorous testing of all systems. After successful completion of the work will proceed to work. This can happen even in September this year, while just completing calibration extremely sensitive sensors may take a few more years. When finally FAST will be 100 percent. ready to work, it will be made available to scientists from all over the world.
The idea of constructing such a telescope has already appeared in 1994, but the biggest problem was finding the funding and a suitable location for such a large object. The Chinese government has finally decided to give the green light project in 2007. As a “host” selected area
Place went to appeal to researchers, mainly because of the surrounding mountain ranges. These are intended to provide a radio telescope natural protection against possible interference. In addition, the recess away from major urban centers, which also has a significant impact on the credibility of the research. To ensure accurate measurements, in addition to around the apparatus was set pięciokilometrowy belt space. The area excavated during the construction of about one million cubic meters of rock material. All of this is ensured so. “Radio silence” sensitive installations. This does not mean, however, that isolated from the world, the object will be impossible to see for tourists and locals. On one of the hills near the FAST designated for a special place to the viewing platform.
The last of nearly 4.5 thousand triangular panels is installed on a structure less than 6 years after the official start of the project. The cylinders, which are located at the bottom of a giant construction fit the panels in motion – these combine to form a single parabolic radio antenna an area equal up to 30 pitches football. They can change the angle of view of the telescope by 40 degrees in each direction from the vertical. The control system has to work with perfect accuracy to 0.2 inches. Total weight of all the mirrors installed in the radio telescope is expected to be 11,000 tons . The length of each side panel (equilateral triangle) has a length of 11 meters. The diameter of the bowl FAST is 500 meters – twice more than the amount previously the tallest building in Poland, or the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw.
FAST is to enable and facilitate researchers to further explore the mysteries of space. Basic assumptions deal with study of neutral hydrogen at the Milky Way, are also be associated with the search for pulsars and other interesting elements of space, which can contribute to a more accurate knowledge of the universe . The Chinese authorities and the researchers are going to reach the traces of planets and galaxies that are within the earth, even a thousand light-years.
The radio telescope is equipped with nine sets so. receivers tuned to receive and strengthen the different radio frequencies. Received signals are fiber-optic network to the ground control center.
- With so sensitive telescope, we can get weaker and more distant radio announcements. This will help us to look for intelligent life outside the galaxy, and explore the origins of the universe – he said July 2015 Xiangping Wu, president of the Chinese Astronomical Society. Investigators do not hide that their goal and one of the additional tasks of the structure is also searching for extraterrestrial civilizations.
Just five years ago it was assumed a budget of about $ 110 million. Finally, the investment absorbed $ 180 million, or more than 700 million.
So far, the world’s largest radio telescope possessed Puerto Rico. Apparatus called Arecibo has a diameter of “only” 305 meters and covers an area of 73,000 square meters. Chinese installation is not only larger, but also several times higher than the opportunities Puerto Rican structure. FAST will have the ability to monitor at the same time nineteen episodes of the sky while Arecibo can monitor only seven. He will work in the range 0,7-3 GHz, so will become the most sensitive radio telescope operating at low radio frequencies with a single canopy in the world . FAST is to enjoy the title of the largest radio telescope in the world – according to estimates – for about 10 to 20 years.
Astronomers eagerly wait for the next generation of powerful observation platforms. Work is underway on the construction of the so-called. European Extremely Large Telescope (literally “extremely great European telescope”) and the James Webb Space Telesope. These and further investments are to contribute to the dynamic development of sciences related to space exploration.
SLK
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