China will build the EAST: Asia's largest optical telescope
(Peking University https://bit.ly/3VuCwCL)
China has unveiled a plan to build the largest ground-based optical telescope in Asia.
The EAST (Expanding Aperture Segmented Telescope) telescope will have an eight-meter segmented primary mirror very similar to the primary mirror of the James Webb telescope.
The construction of the EAST is divided in two stages and it will take seven years.
Currently, China's largest optical telescope is the 4-meter LAMOST, but it is used as a spectroscope for an extensive spectroscopic survey of the stars of the Milky Way.
It is followed by two other optical telescopes used for a variety of observations:
- the 2.4-meter telescope in Lijiang
- the 2.16-meter telescope in Xinglong
However, these observational facilities are not enough to support the actively developing astronomical research of China.
The Asian country wants to compete on equal terms in the field of astronomy and astronautics with other large states like the US.
EAST
Now, Peking University has unveiled the EAST optical general purpose telescope, which will have the largest aperture among telescopes in Asia.
It will be built in the Lenghu area of Haixi Prefecture in southwest China, where there are good conditions for optical observations.
The telescope will be built in two phases over seven years.
At the first stage (2024-2028), the engineers will create the supporting structure of the telescope and the dome.
The main mirror at the first stage will consist of 18 hexagonal segments, and have a diameter of six meters.
The design of the mirror will be very similar to the main mirror of the James Webb.
At this stage, the telescope will acquire cameras and spectrometers of low and medium resolution.
As part of the second phase (2029-2030), the main mirror will acquire 18 more segments, which will increase its diameter to almost 8 meters.
At this stage, the telescope will receive
- high-resolution spectrometers
- multi-object spectrometers
- polarimeters
- an adaptive optics system
The total cost of the project is estimated at 86 million dollars (500-600 million yuan).
Sources:
- Peking University: http://astro.pku.edu.cn/info/1056/1795.htm
- Space.com: https://www.space.com/china-expanding-optical-telescope-design
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