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The Mystery of 500 Meters: Why is FAST the largest radio telescope in the world?
In the Dawotang Depression in Guizhou Province, China, the majestic Five Hundred Meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) is like a bright pearl, shining in the sky of science and technology. Since the first light was observed in 2016, FAST has carried countless scientific dreams and become a cutting-edge force in exploring the mysteries of the universe.
Construction background of FAST
The idea for this telescope dates back to 1994. After years of preparation, it was finally approved by the National Development and Reform Commission of China in 2007. Construction began in 2011 and the final panels were installed in July 2016, a process that cost approximately $1.8 billion.
Due to construction needs, 65 villagers were forced to relocate. For this reason, the Chinese government invested approximately US$269 million in poverty relief funds.
Design and operation of FAST
FAST's reflecting surface has a diameter of 500 meters and is placed in a natural depression. This not only improves the sensitivity of its observations, but also enables the telescope to more effectively capture weak signals in the universe. Its unique design includes 4,500 metal panels, combined with the active surface technology of the main mirror, allowing each panel in the network to adjust in real time to maintain the best parabolic shape.
The expected pointing accuracy is 8 arc seconds, allowing the telescope to conduct precise observations at smaller ranges.
Major scientific achievements
FAST's first major discovery occurred in 2017, when it discovered two new pulsars. This result wrote a brilliant page for China's astronomical research. As of 2021, researchers have discovered 500 new pulsars, a number that continues to grow, demonstrating FAST's contribution to astrophysics research.
"These discoveries not only prove FAST's technical capabilities, but also expand our understanding of the universe."
Signal from aliens?
In 2022, scientists reported that they may have detected artificial signals from the outside when observing with the FAST telescope. This news quickly attracted widespread attention and discussion in the media. Although it was later questioned that it may only be caused by natural interference, this attempt to explore extraterrestrial intelligence is still exciting.
Scientific mission and global cooperation
FAST's scientific mission spans multiple fields of astronomy, including large-scale neutral hydrogen surveys, pulsar observations, interstellar molecule detection, etc. It also forms part of the "Breakthrough Listening" project, which aims to find intelligent signals from the universe.
"FAST will be open to the global scientific community in 2021, which will promote international cooperation."
Comparison with Arecibo Telescope
The design of FAST was inspired by the retired Arecibo telescope, but there are obvious differences between the two. Although Arecibo has a similar diameter, it has a fixed spherical shape, while FAST can adjust the shape of the reflective surface in real time, improving the flexibility and accuracy of observation.
Summary and Outlook
With the full operation of FAST, future observations and research will likely reveal more mysteries of the universe. Perhaps we will be able to understand deeper physical laws and even look for clues of other life. As the world's largest radio telescope, FAST is not only a symbol of scientific and technological progress, but also a symbol of human courage to explore the unknown.
In this rapidly changing era, how do you think humans should use such technology to explore the universe and even search for the existence of intelligent life?
