Radio telescopes to build surrounding FAST for resolution enhancement

Chinese scientists are considering setting up smaller radio telescopes surrounding FAST to increase array resolution, authorities said.

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2016 shows the 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. [Photo: Xinhua/Liu Xu]

According to the FAST observation station with the National Astronomical Observatories, two to 10 radio telescopes measuring 30 meters in diameter may be set up around FAST, the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

The resolution of the array will be around 100 times greater than currently.

FAST will have a more advanced radio receiver as early as end of April. 

Located in a natural, deep round karst depression in Guizhou, southwest China, FAST, or Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, is believed to be the world's most sensitive radio telescope. 

Its tasks include observation of pulsars, exploration of interstellar molecules and monitoring interstellar communication signals.