China has recently completed the construction of the world’s largest solar radio telescope, the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope (DSRT), which has now begun its permanent testing phase. The DSRT is located on a 3,800-meter-high mountain near the Tibetan Plateau and consists of 313 dish-shaped antennas, each with a diameter of six meters. The antennas are arranged in a circular pattern, forming a circle with a diameter of 1,000 meters, with a 100-meter-high calibration tower in the center. The primary purpose of the DSRT is to continuously monitor the sun, particularly coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar eruptions, as well as to aid in the discovery of asteroids and better understanding of pulsars.
The project is being developed and led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as part of the Meridian Project, which aims to monitor space weather. According to Hui Tian, a solar physicist at Peking University, the Chinese telescope can conduct observations of solar activity that are not possible from other time zones. Foreign scientists, such as solar physicist Maria Kazachenko from the University of Colorado (CU), also view the telescope positively, stating that “we are entering the golden age of solar astronomy as many large solar telescopes are being put into operation.”
Other countries have also recently put new solar radio telescopes into operation, as the current phase is characterized by high solar activity. Together, these telescopes allow for the permanent monitoring of the star. While it is not yet known when the DSRT will begin regular operations, its completion marks a significant milestone in the field of solar astronomy.
In conclusion, the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope (DSRT) in China is the world’s largest solar radio telescope, consisting of 313 dish-shaped antennas arranged in a circular pattern. Its primary purpose is to continuously monitor the sun, particularly coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar eruptions, as well as to aid in the discovery of asteroids and better understanding of pulsars. The project is being developed and led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as part of the Meridian Project, which aims to monitor space weather. The completion of the DSRT marks a significant milestone in the field of solar astronomy, allowing for the permanent monitoring of the star.
Nature: 10.1038/d41586-022-03595-7
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