description FAST Overview
Set in a natural depression in China's Guizhou province, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, observes the universe through radio signals rather than visible light. Its 500-meter reflector makes it the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. The broad collecting surface gives astronomers high sensitivity to faint signals, although only part of the dish is used to form the observing aperture at a given time. Research with FAST includes pulsars, rapidly rotating stellar remnants whose regular radio pulses can probe fundamental physics.
It also supports studies of interstellar gas and radio-emitting objects such as quasars, contributing to wider questions about cosmic evolution. As a national scientific facility, it primarily serves astrophysics researchers. Its defining feature is the combination of a very large fixed reflector with an adjustable reflecting surface and movable receiver.
help FAST FAQ
Where is the FAST telescope located?
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is located in a natural karst sinkhole in Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, China. The site's geographic depression perfectly accommodates the massive dish.
How large is the FAST telescope?
FAST is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, with a diameter of 500 meters (1,640 feet). Its massive collecting area gives it significantly greater sensitivity than the previous record holder, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
What are the primary scientific goals of the FAST telescope?
The FAST telescope is designed to detect pulsars, search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), and study neutral hydrogen in the universe. Since becoming operational, it has discovered hundreds of new pulsars.
When did the FAST telescope become fully operational?
Construction of the FAST telescope was completed in 2016, but it officially began regular operations in January 2020. The delay allowed scientists to thoroughly test and calibrate the complex instrument before full-time use.
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
