中国首台15米口径亚毫米波望远镜启动建设

Core Viewpoint - The construction of China's first self-developed 15-meter diameter submillimeter wave telescope (XSMT) has officially commenced in Delingha, Qinghai Province, aiming for completion by 2027, which will position China at the forefront of submillimeter astronomy with an internationally advanced telescope [1] Group 1: Project Overview - The XSMT is led by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and features a high-precision antenna panel capable of supporting high-frequency submillimeter wave observations [1] - The telescope is equipped with advanced scientific instruments, including a large-field multi-color camera, a three-band superheterodyne receiver, and a 460GHz multi-beam receiver, enabling wideband, wide-field, and high-sensitivity observations [1] Group 2: Scientific Significance - The submillimeter wave range, defined as electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 0.1 to 1 millimeter, reveals phenomena not visible in the optical and near-infrared spectrum, such as the movement of interstellar dust, distribution of molecular gas, and the birth and growth of stars [1] - The development of this telescope addresses a significant gap in China's astronomical capabilities, particularly in the submillimeter wave domain [1]