China's scientific ambitions reached new heights this week as the main structure of a colossal 110-meter radio telescope was completed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nestled in Qitai County's Tianshan foothills, this engineering marvel will weigh over 6,000 tonnes and scan 75% of the visible sky when operational by 2028.
Sky-High Capabilities
The fully steerable design allows unprecedented celestial tracking compared to fixed telescopes, with engineers now transitioning to installing sensitive receivers and calibration systems. This follows China's parallel development of a 120-meter telescope in Jilin Province – poised to surpass West Virginia's 100-meter Green Bank Telescope as the world's largest steerable radio observatory.
Scientific Crossroads
Astrophysicists highlight the telescope's potential for pulsar studies and deep-space signal detection. 'Steerable designs let us chase cosmic phenomena in real time,' explains Dr. Li Wei, a radio astronomy researcher. 'This positions China as a key player in global collaborative projects.'
The project forms part of China's expanding science infrastructure, offering researchers worldwide new tools to unravel mysteries from dark matter to extraterrestrial communication.
