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21st of July 2017
FAST
by Phil Edwards (CASS)
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) has been constructed in south-westen China. Although the diameter of the full reflector is 500m, the telescope features an "active surface" to focus the radio waves. For observing, a circle of 300 m diameter will be shaped into a parabolic surface by 2225 winches located behind the panels. The image above shows both the surface panels and the cable system behind it that will be used to shape the surface. The telescope was opened in September 2016 and is currently being commissioned.


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