FAST
FAST refers to the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope located in Kedu Town, Pingtang County, Guizhou Province. FAST is the largest single-aperture and most sensitive radio telescope in the world, whose overall performance is ten times that of the Arecibo telescope in the United States. Its reflective surface has an area of 250,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of 30 football fields.
As one of China's major science and technology projects, FAST was put into operation on September 25, 2016, and had discovered more than 300 pulsars by the end of March 2021, contributing significantly to the endeavors of scientists to explore the secrets of the universe. FAST belongs not just to China, but to all mankind. It began to be open to the world on March 31, 2021. Now scientists in all countries are allowed to apply to use the telescope for observation and research purposes.
To protect the electromagnetic wave environment around FAST, the area within a radius of five kilometers is set as the quiet zone, where all modern communication signals are blocked, which is something unique to experience. Kedu Town, where FAST is located, has become a popular science demonstration center. Every year a large number of astronomy enthusiasts and tourists come here to learn about astronomy, explore the secrets of the universe, take a vacation, and take part in cultural exchange.
“中国天眼”
“中国天眼”,是指位于贵州省平塘县克度镇的500米口径球面射电天文望远镜,它是目前世界上最大单口径、最灵敏的射电望远镜,综合性能是美国阿雷西博望远镜的10倍。它的总面积达25万平方米,相当于30个足球场那么大。
“中国天眼”是中国的国家重大科技工程之一,于2016年9月25日落成启用。截至2021年3月底,“中国天眼”已发现脉冲星300多颗,为人类探测宇宙秘密的科学事业作出重大贡献。“中国天眼”不只属于中国,也属于全人类。自2021年3月31日起,“中国天眼”面向全球开放,各国科学家均可提出申请,使用它开展观测和研究工作。
为保护天眼周边的电磁波环境,围绕望远镜半径5千米的范围都属于静默区,人们可以在这里体验没有现代通信干扰的生活,那是一种独特的感受。“中国天眼”所在的克度镇已成为科普示范基地,每年大批天文爱好者和游客来这里体验集天文科普、宇宙探秘、旅游度假、文化交流为一体的生态科技旅游。
