"Sky eye" completed this reveals how FAST radio telescope cattle
"Sky eye"July 3, 2016, presided over by the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, pingtang in Guizhou province 500 meters for the construction of the world's largest single-aperture spherical telescope (abbreviated as FAST) main project is nearing completion, and finally a reflector unit today, lifting. FAST by receiving cosmic radio signal science observation, the reflector unit is an important part. A size of 30 football fields "sky eye" after more than 20 years of design and construction, finally unveiled.
FAST30 a football field improved detection ability of first pulsar
According to the construction plan, FAST in September 2016 will be completed and put into use initially, first applied science research is to find and study pulsars in the universe. Experts, Pulsar Astrophysics Laboratory, you can study some special Astrophysical phenomena and evolution of the universe. If binary systems consisting of pulsars and black holes, scientists pulsars can be used to study a black hole spacetime. In addition, the pulsar is also a very accurate clock, is vital for deep space exploration.
In fact, pulsars, quasars, interstellar organic molecules and other important astronomical discoveries are associated with radio telescopes. Clear 10 based on astronomical observations in the history of the Nobel Prize, 6 from radio telescopes. In addition, the 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope built using, can China's space control capabilities extend from the orbit of the moon to the edge of the solar system, Mars and other deep space research, China will lay an important foundation.
Read the people likely to be curious of the three-body, this super telescope are as described in the novel, the help search for extraterrestrial civilizations as early as possible? Scientists say that although FAST does not signal there may be a higher intelligent life in the universe, but it's super human ability to search for extraterrestrial civilizations sensitivity can be raised to an unprecedented level.
FAST radio telescope exactly how cows?
Unique skills: large-diameter see far
Most important parameter is the sensitivity of radio telescopes. Sensitivity is higher, stronger telescopes to detect weak radio capacity. In order to increase sensitivity, needs to expand the radio telescope's diameter. FAST Aperture has reached the world's highest--500 meters. In theory, FAST receives electromagnetic signals of 13.7 billion light-years, the distance is close to the edge of the universe.
400 years ago, the first of only 4.2 cm diameter telescope, FAST aperture is the 12,000 times. Known as "big machine" Germany Bonn, compared to 100-meter telescope, sensitivity increased about 10 times FAST times and was named the top 20th century works of mankind's first United States o Lei Xibo compared to the 300-metre telescope, increase its performance by about 2.25 times. As the world's largest single-aperture telescope, and FAST for the next 20-30 years of world class equipment became family head of the telescope.
Unique skills II: eye of flexible
According to the principle of FAST, when it is to observe celestial bodies, along with the change of location of heavenly bodies, spherical cap of 500 m of active reflector forming a diameter of 300 meters in real time on the transient paraboloid, and through the 300-meter parabolic surfaces together to electromagnetic waves.
Figuratively, if FAST an enormous eye, this giant eye eyeball diameter of 500 meters, and receives light eyes just 300 meters in diameter. FAST is to be gathered on this huge flexibility of the eyeball electromagnetic waves, observation of deep space.
Thanks to trick three: mm accuracy
FAST design goals, is a signal covering 30 football fields, gathered at the pill the size of space, otherwise, you cannot listen to the faint radio signals in the universe. Structure of the 500 meters, is covered with hair-like millimeter-scale accuracy. Woven cable network over more than 7,000 arms like the thickness of a steel cable, each are contained within a millimeter of Machining accuracy; precision of the final 500-meter antenna is three millimeters, a small panel of manufacturing accuracy is 1.5 mm.
Unique skill four: deep space Hunter
First of all, FAST to rush out of the milky way, looking for stars, especially the rapid rotation, high density, pulsar, found in FAST expects first year 50-80 extragalactic pulsar. FAST may be observed early traces of the universe – the neutral hydrogen cloud movement, master the details of the interactions between galaxies, revealing the origin and evolution of the universe. Similar reason, FAST but also listening to some unique electromagnetic waves of light organic molecules in space, search for possible interplanetary communication signals and extraterrestrial life. The search for extraterrestrial life is all about one of the telescope's mission and focus of science fiction enthusiasts, exploring the universe interested in deep space, huge and clever FAST has been poised, wonders and surprises just around the corner.
(Editors: Hao Long UN654)
2016-07-03 11:47:13
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“观天巨眼”今竣工 揭秘FAST射电望远镜有多牛
“观天巨眼” 2016年7月3日讯，由中科院国家天文台主持，正在贵州平塘建设的500米世界最大单口径球面望远镜（英文简称FAST）主体工程即将完工，最后一块反射面单元今天将完成吊装。FAST通过接收宇宙天体的射电信号完成科学任务观测，反射面单元是其重要组成部分。一个30个足球场大小的“观天巨眼”经历二十余年的设计、施工，最终揭开神秘面纱。
FAST30个足球场大提升空间探测能力 首先寻找脉冲星
根据建设规划，FAST将在2016年9月全部建成并初步投入使用，首个应用科学研究是寻找和研究宇宙中的脉冲星。专家介绍，脉冲星就像天体物理实验室，可以研究一些特殊天体物理和宇宙演化现象。如果发现脉冲星与黑洞组成的双星系统，科学家可以利用脉冲星去研究黑洞周围时空。此外，脉冲星也是非常精准的时钟，对于深空探测具有重要意义。
事实上，脉冲星、类星体、星际有机分子等重要天文发现都与射电望远镜有关。诺贝尔奖历史上明确基于天文观测的10项获奖成果中，有6项出自射电望远镜。此外，500米口径球面射电望远镜的建成使用，可以将中国空间测控能力由月球同步轨道延伸到太阳系边缘，将为中国火星探测等深空研究奠定重要基础。
看过《三体》的人可能都会好奇，这个超级望远镜是否能像小说中所描述的那样，帮助人类尽早地搜寻到地外文明？科学家表示，虽然FAST并不能发射信号给宇宙中或许存在的高等智慧生物，但是它超强的灵敏度却可以将人类搜寻外星文明能力提升到前所未有的高度。
FAST射电望远镜到底有多牛？
独门绝技一：大口径 看得远
射电望远镜最重要的指标参数就是灵敏度。灵敏度越高，望远镜探测微弱无线电的能力越强。而要想提高灵敏度，就需要扩大射电望远镜的口径。FAST的口径达到了世界之最——500米。理论上说，FAST能接收到137亿光年以外的电磁信号，这个距离接近于宇宙的边缘。
400年前人类第一架天文望远镜的口径仅有4.2厘米，FAST的口径是它的12000倍。与号称“地面最大的机器”的德国波恩100米望远镜相比，FAST的灵敏度提高约10倍；与被评为人类20世纪十大工程之首的美国阿雷西博300米望远镜相比，其综合性能提高约2.25倍。作为世界最大的单口径望远镜，FAST将在未来20-30年保持世界一流设备的地位，成为望远镜家族的掌门人。
独门绝技二：灵活自如的巨眼
根据FAST的工作原理，当它观测天体时，会随着天体的方位变化，在其500米的球冠状主动反射面上实时形成一个300米直径的瞬时抛物面，并通过这个300米的抛物面来汇聚电磁波。
形象地来说，如果把FAST比作一只巨大的眼睛，那么这只巨眼的眼球直径就有500米，而负责接收光线的眼珠直径就有300米。FAST就是靠这个巨大灵活的眼珠来汇聚电磁波、观测深空。
独门绝技三：毫米精度
FAST的设计目标，是把覆盖30个足球场的信号，聚集在药片大小的空间里，否则，就无法监听到宇宙中微弱的射电信号。500米的结构，处处都是头发丝般毫米级的精度要求。用来编织索网的7000多根手臂般粗细的钢缆，每一根的加工精度都被控制在一毫米以内；最终的500米口径的天线精度是三个毫米，每一块小面板的制造精度是1.5个毫米。
独门绝技四：深空猎手
首先，FAST能够冲出银河系，寻找新星，特别是快速旋转、密度极高的脉冲星，FAST期望第一年就找到50-80颗银河系外的脉冲星。FAST还可能观察到早期宇宙的蛛丝马迹——中性氢云团的运动，掌握星系之间互动的细节，揭秘宇宙的起源和演化。类似的道理，FAST还能监听到一些太空有机分子发出的独特电磁波，搜索可能的星际通讯信号和外星生命。寻找外星生命是所有望远镜的使命之一，也是科幻爱好者们关注的热点，探索宇宙志在深空，巨大而灵巧的FAST，已经蓄势待发，奇迹与惊喜，就在眼前。
(责任编辑：郝龙 UN654)
2016-07-03 11:47:13
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