China started the world's largest radio telescope FAST

   The world's largest radio telescope FAST launched in the Chinese province of Guizhou in the southwest of the country, reports the AP. It is expected that a highly sensitive telescope would help in the search for extraterrestrial life, the study of dark matter and the evolution of galaxies.

   FAST stands for "Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope". As the name implies, the diameter of the telescope is 500 meters. Area giant equals the total area of ​​30 football fields, and each of the reflectors 4450 can adjust the position with millimeter precision. It is assumed that the sensitivity of the telescope 10 times the 100-meter radio in Germany.

   Construction County Pintana was conducted over five years, and the cost of the project amounted to more than $ 180 million. In addition, the Chinese authorities have moved 9000 people living in a radius of five kilometers from the radio telescope, reminds RIA "Novosti". For them, 600 houses in two new settlements were built.

   FAST and a half times the size of the previous record holder - radio telescope of the Arecibo Observatory, located in Puerto Rico, with a diameter of 300 meters.

   Chinese scientists from the National Astronomical Observatory expect their radio telescope will be one of the world leaders for 10 or even 20 years.