China to build new telescopic array in Antarctica
China has successfully developed a prototype astronomical telescope array, which was recently tested in Antarctica, Xinhua reports
A new project called the South Pole Eye of the Sky is expected to consist of 100 small-diameter, large-field telescopes in the Antarctic region, with a single one covering a 10,000-square-degree sky area.
According to the developers of this project from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, these optical telescopes will carry out continuous observation during the polar night every year.
The array’s prototype was transported to China’s Zhongshan Station during the country's 39th Antarctic scientific expedition.
Starting from February 20th, 2023, the prototype completed trouble-free observations for 248 consecutive days and obtained a large amount of data during the Antarctic polar night.
The Shanghai Astronomical Observatory said preliminary results showed that the prototype’s photometric accuracy of stars brighter than 9th magnitude in images exposed for 30 seconds reached one-thousandth of a stellar magnitude, confirming the feasibility of the prototype design.
Experts say the prototype is China’s first astronomical observation equipment in Antarctica based on drift scanning charge coupled device (CCD) technology, enabling the telescope to track celestial objects without a driving mechanism.
