The Chinese have built the largest radio telescope

The diagonal of the reflector is greater than 500 metres.

In 2016 in the Chinese province of Guizhou has introduced the world’s largest radio telescope with a filled aperture – FAST. Its construction cost $180 million.

The diagonal of the reflector is greater than 500 meters, and the area is about 30 football fields. Watching FAST pulsars, interstellar gas explores and analyzes the objects in the era of reionization (the period from 550 million years and 800 million years after the Big Bang). The radio telescope is working in test mode, but have found 53 star-a pulsar. Its full launch is scheduled for the first half of 2019.

These plans can be broken. Experienced object has been non-technical problems, writes the South China Morning Post. To FAST are unable to recruit specialists, who will analyze the data.

The radio telescope is located in a mountainous area in the southwest of China, where scientists are reluctant to move. Around it a small village. At the same time, to run FAST from the five-kilometer zone around another and evicted about 9,000 local residents.

Plan on hiring about two dozen research staff, the administration object is not yet fulfilled. In an interview with the local press, the Director of the FAST said that the object is now only 20 scientists, half of the required composition.

According to the published queries, applicants are required fluency in English and willingness to live long and work in remote areas. They offer about 100,000 yuan ($14 000) per year. This is contract work and not a permanent lease.

Also FAST with 2017 looking for the lead scientist, who will lead the work of the telescope. To cooperation invite foreign specialists, offering a bonus of about $1.2 million in research funds.

Salary, according to the statements of the employer (National astronomical Observatory of China), is equal to rates for similar positions in Western countries. In addition, the holder of the post will receive various bonuses such as free accommodation. But while that recruiting activity is not successful.

About The Author

Jan Hartman

Jan Hartman has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk.
Before joining The Sivertelegram, Jan Hartman worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella.