In Guizhou, China set up the world's largest "pot antenna" looking for extraterrestrial civilizations | | extraterrestrial civilizations _ day eye news
Original title: the world's largest "pot" may search for extraterrestrial civilizations
Remember the "pot antenna" looks like you? On July 3, 2016, the 500 metres in diameter, by far the largest of the "pot" in Guizhou Karst sinkhole will be completed. It's 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope, the world's largest and most powerful single-aperture radio telescope. It's called "eye in the sky", used to listen to the voice of the universe, the universe of observation.
Sensitive "ears"
Use the "pot antenna" known pot diameter larger television screen is also sharper. Radio telescope, Aperture, the greater the farther. Radio astronomers all over the world to pursue the construction of larger diameter "lid" to improve the sensitivity of radio telescopes.
National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences researcher, said Peng Bo, Assistant Project Manager for 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope, radio telescope had encountered financial constraints early in the design and build, but whatever reduction scientists are unwilling to reduce the diameter of the telescope. Previously, the most sensitive radio telescope in the world, namely Germany 100-meter telescope in Bonn and United States o Lei Xibo 300-meter telescope. The former can be moved "shake", the latter with Puerto Rico Karst depressions on the island was built.
Not only is a large circle
Whether it's being on the side of large radio telescope, up near the top of the observation deck, or through virtual reality videos, you can feel it the first feature-. Scientists describe it as a "sky eye".
National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 500 meter aperture spherical radio telescope project technologist Wang Qiming said only ring beam, cable network and supporting cabin of 6 towers with more than 10,000 tons of steel.
"Telescope reflector with a total area of 250,000 square meters, equivalent to 30 standard football field. Although reflective panels 1 mm thick, also spent more than 2000 tons of aluminum alloy. "Wang Qiming said.
But large radio telescope is a pile of metal never "stupid thick", it is the most sophisticated astronomical instruments.
National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Vice Director Zheng Xiaonian said 100-meter Germany Bonn telescopes were known as "maximum ground machine", for large radio telescope in China compared with it, increase the sensitivity by about 10 times. 300-m United States o Lei Xibo telescope for more than 50 years no one beyond, big radio telescope in China compared with it, performance improved by about 10 times.
Looking for extraterrestrial civilizations
"As with other radio telescopes, two of China's largest radio telescope the main scientific goal is to visit the universe of neutral hydrogen and observing pulsars, which is the study of the largest-scale physics, to explore the origin and evolution of the universe, which is the study of the structure of matter and the laws of physics under extreme conditions. "Zheng Xiaonian said.
Left to the human exploration of the Earth's atmosphere cosmic two Windows, one optical and one radio. To astronomers, if optical telescopes microscopes, then a radio telescope is a CT machine, you can get the hyperfine structure of astronomical objects.
"Born from the radio telescope so far, about 2500 pulsar was discovered in humans, if China's large radio telescopes work all the time for the observation of pulsars, and within a year this number is expected to double. "Peng Bo said.
"For the general public is very concerned about the large radio telescope can be used to search for extraterrestrial civilizations, the answer is Yes. "Peng Bo said, it is a tool to detect extrasolar planets, especially Earth-like planets. Because of the improved sensitivity, it can see farther, fainter objects, search through the detection of interstellar molecules, possible interplanetary communication signals, look for extraterrestrial civilization than existing devices up to 5 to 10 times. According to Xinhua News Agency
Responsible editor: Ni Zi Jiang
Article keywords:Eye in the sky for extraterrestrial civilizations
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中国在贵州架设全球最大“锅盖天线” 可寻找地外文明|天眼|地外文明_新闻资讯
原标题：全球最大“锅盖”可寻地外文明
还记得“锅盖天线”长什么样吗？2016年7月3日，直径500米、迄今全球最大的“锅盖”在贵州喀斯特天坑中架设完成。它就是500米口径球面射电望远镜，世界上最大和最具威力的单口径射电望远镜。它被称为“天眼”，用来倾听宇宙深处声音、观测宇宙奥秘。
灵敏的“耳朵”
用过“锅盖天线”的人知道，锅盖口径越大，电视画面也越清晰。对于射电望远镜来说，口径越大看得越远。全世界的射电天文学家都追求建造更大口径的“锅盖”，以提高射电望远镜灵敏度。
中国科学院国家天文台研究员、500米口径球面射电望远镜工程副经理彭勃说，射电望远镜在设计建造之初就曾遇到经费紧张，但不管减什么科学家们都不愿缩小望远镜的口径。此前，世界上最灵敏的射电望远镜，分别是德国波恩100米望远镜和美国阿雷西博300米望远镜。前者是可以移动“摇头”的，后者则借助波多黎各岛上的喀斯特洼坑建造。
不只是大一圈
无论是置身大射电望远镜边上，爬上附近山顶的观景台，还是通过虚拟现实视频，你都能直观感受它的第一特点——大。科学家们形容它是一座“观天巨眼”。
中国科学院国家天文台500米口径球面射电望远镜工程总工艺师王启明说，仅圈梁、索网和支撑馈源舱的6座高塔就用掉1万多吨钢材。
“望远镜反射面总面积为25万平方米，相当于30个标准足球场那么大。尽管反射面板才1毫米厚，也用掉2000多吨铝合金。”王启明说。
但大射电望远镜绝不是金属堆砌的“傻大粗”，它是最精密的天文仪器。
中国科学院国家天文台副台长郑晓年说，100米口径的德国波恩望远镜曾号称“地面最大的机器”，中国大射电望远镜与它相比，灵敏度提高约10倍。300米口径的美国阿雷西博望远镜，50多年一直无人超越，中国大射电望远镜跟它相比，综合性能提高约10倍。
寻找地外文明
“跟其他射电望远镜一样，中国大射电望远镜最主要的两大科学目标是巡视宇宙中的中性氢和观测脉冲星，前者是研究宇宙大尺度物理学，以探索宇宙起源和演化，后者是研究极端状态下的物质结构与物理规律。”郑晓年说。
地球大气层留给人类探索宇宙两个窗口，一个是光学，一个是射电。对天文学家来说，如果光学望远镜是显微镜，那么射电望远镜就是CT机，可以获得天体的超精细结构。
“从射电望远镜诞生至今，人类共发现了约2500颗脉冲星，如果中国大射电望远镜的工作时间全部用于观测脉冲星，它一年时间内就有望将这个数量翻倍。”彭勃说。
“针对大众十分关心的大射电望远镜能否用于寻找地外文明，答案是肯定的。”彭勃表示，它是探测系外行星尤其是类地行星的利器。由于灵敏度提高，它能看到更远、更暗弱的天体，通过探测星际分子、搜索可能的星际通讯信号，寻找地外文明的几率比现有设备提升了5至10倍。据新华社
责任编辑：倪子牮
文章关键词： 天眼 地外文明
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