China has expanded its footprint in polar astronomy with the installation of the Three Gorges Antarctic Eye, a cutting-edge 3.2-meter radio/millimeter-wave telescope at the Zhongshan research station in Antarctica. Officially activated on April 3, the project marks a collaborative breakthrough between China Three Gorges University (CTGU) and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), enhancing global efforts to study cosmic phenomena.
The telescope has begun observing the Milky Way's neutral hydrogen and ammonia molecular spectral lines, providing critical data to decode interstellar gas dynamics and star formation processes. Researchers say these observations could unlock secrets about the life cycles of stars and the evolution of galaxies.
"Antarctica's extreme cold and high-altitude atmosphere offer unique advantages for millimeter-wave astronomy," explained Zhang Yi, an SHNU associate professor and expedition team member. "This telescope solves key technical challenges, paving the way for even more advanced instruments in the future."
Developing the device required overcoming Antarctica\u2019s brutal conditions, including temperatures as low as -80\u00b0C and wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h. CTGU and SHNU teams spent two years engineering solutions for equipment durability and precision calibration in this hostile environment.
CTGU Party chief He Weijun called the project a "testament to Chinese scientists\u2019 innovative spirit" and universities\u2019 role in national scientific advancement. Researchers plan to conduct on-site expeditions once the telescope stabilizes operations, building on China\u2019s existing Antarctic astronomy initiatives like the AST3 survey telescopes.
The deployment strengthens Antarctica\u2019s status as a global hub for infrared and submillimeter-wave observations, offering astronomers unparalleled views of the cosmos from Earth\u2019s southernmost continent.
