China has officially embarked on the next stage towards a raw era of mavin gazing . The expression of the largest wireless telescope in the human race began in 2011 . Now , the panels that will make up the elephantine space - view automobile are at last being tack together .
The scope is called FAST , or the Five - hundred - meter Aperture Spherical Telescope .
On Thursday , technicians began inserting the 4,450 triangular , reflector panel into position . This walloping reflecting telescope will overshadow all other radio scope when it comes to its dish size , measuring500 meters(1,640 animal foot ) in diameter . Each equilateral triangle panel has a side distance of 11 meters ( 36 foundation ) . The second largest wireless scope built , theArecibo Observatory , is in Puerto Rico and is 305 meters ( 1,000 foot ) across in diameter .
The telescope will be nestle comfortably in a valley in the Karst depression located in the Guizhou responsibility . This site was chosen because It is ideally situate in closing off from town or house physician ; there is a 5 - kilometre ( 3 mile ) surface area around the dish separating it from any people and therefore , any preventive . A 500 - meter telescope is a sensitive instrument and need ' radio silence ' to pick up accurate signals .
key Image : FAST supporting structure diagram . Arxiv .
The part is also well - suited for drawing rain underground that will protect the reflector from environmental damage .
tight is greatly anticipate by Chinese quad scientists since they currently have to trust a draw on " 2nd - helping hand " data . Wu Xiangping , director - superior general of the Chinese Astronomical Society , said : " Having a more sensitive telescope , we can receive weaker and more distant radio messages . "
He continued with a content of hope and discovery : " It will help us to look for intelligent life outside of the galaxy and explore the origin of the universe . "
luckily for any tourists , the designer of the scope have prepared for a certain level of public interest . There is an reflection platform being build on one of the hills beleaguer the scope : the estimable place to appreciate a 500 - meter art object of technology that will peer into space on our behalf .
