Chinas FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists

Chinese scientists also need to comply with the online application formality, Jiang said.

Jiang Peng, chief engineer of FAST with NAOC, said in the first year of the telescopes opening to the global scientific community, about 10 percent of the observation time will be allocated to foreign scientists.

The National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the operator of the telescope, confirmed Monday that scientists across the world can make online appointments for using the device for observation from April 1. An allotted timetable will be available by Aug. 1.

Located in a deep and round karst depression in southwest Chinas Guizhou Province, FAST is believed to be the worlds most sensitive radio telescope. It started formal operations on Jan. 11, 2022.

Photo/Liu Xu (Xinhua)

Chinas Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the worlds largest single-dish radio telescope, will be available for global service from April 1.