Radio Astronomy – Down But Not Out – Chinese Telescope Opens #astronomy

It’s new, it’s big, and it’s open to international scientists. We shed tears over the final demise of the Arecibo Observatory, which stood as the largest telescope of its type in the world for 53 years. Now a Chinese observatory, constructed in 2016, steps up.

China’s new radio telescope

With its massive 1,600-foot (500 meters) diameter dish, FAST [the new telescope’s acronym] is not only larger than the now-destroyed Arecibo telescope, but it’s also three times more sensitive. FAST, which began full operations in January of this year, is also surrounded by a 3-mile (5 kilometers) “radio silence” zone in which cellphones and computers are not allowed. livescience

China is accepting international proposals now. Yes, astronomers would have preferred to have both observatories, but it’s good to know that studies of black holes, exoplanets, and who-knows what else will continue.