VCG via Getty Images
中国の貴州省で建設中の世界最大級の電波望遠鏡「Fast」に7月3日、最後のパネルが埋め込まれる作業が行われ、メイン部分の工事がほぼ完了した。9月の稼働に向け、テストや微調整に入る。ガーディアンなどが報じた。
なお、中国天文学会の武向平理事長はこれまで、この望遠鏡について「銀河系外の知的生命体を探索する一助となるだろう」と語るなど、Fastが宇宙空間から知的生命体によって送信されたメッセージなどを受信することができる可能性も示唆している。
（Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images）
「Fast」は直径500メートルもの半球型の巨大アンテナを持ち、サッカー場約30個分に相当する。現時点で世界最大の電子望遠鏡は、直径約300メートルあるプエルトリコのアレシボ電波天文台だが、この大幅に記録を塗り替えることになる。
環球時報は、建設までの様子をタイムラプス動画で紹介した。
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世界最大級の電磁望遠鏡「Fast」
China Radio Telescope(01 of10)
In this photo released by China\'s Xinhua News Agency, a vehicle leaves light trails in a long exposure photo as it drives beneath the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang County in southwestern China\'s Guizhou Province Monday, June 27, 2016. Construction on the 500-meter (1600-feet) diameter radio telescope, which began in 2011, is nearing completion. (Liu Xu/Xinhua via AP) NO SALES (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Completes Installation(02 of10)
UNSPECIFIED, CHINA - JULY 03: Workers lift the last panel to install into the center of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) on July 3, 2016, China. The dish-like telescope, as large as 30 football fields, costing 1.2 billion yuan (about 180 million USD), will be used for reasearch and further adjustment according to China Daily. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (credit:VCG via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Completes Installation(03 of10)
UNSPECIFIED, CHINA - JULY 03: Workers lift the last panel to install into the center of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) on July 3, 2016, China. The dish-like telescope, as large as 30 football fields, costing 1.2 billion yuan (about 180 million USD), will be used for reasearch and further adjustment according to China Daily. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (credit:VCG via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Completes Installation(04 of10)
UNSPECIFIED, CHINA - JULY 03: Workers lift the last panel to install into the center of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) on July 3, 2016, China. The dish-like telescope, as large as 30 football fields, costing 1.2 billion yuan (about 180 million USD), will be used for reasearch and further adjustment according to China Daily. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (credit:VCG via Getty Images)
Qiannan 500M Aperture Spherical Telescope Soon To Be Completed(05 of10)
QIANNAN, CHINA - JUNE 10: (CHINA OUT) An aerial view of the Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) on June 10, 2016 in Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, China. After five years of construction, FAST will be completed by August 30, 2016 and will be the world\'s second largest radio telescope. It is also planned to be developed into a tourist destination. Currently, engineers are finishing the reflection dish and working on the construction of ancillary facilities such as the viewing platform, trail ladder and guesthouse. Farmers who still live in the valleys near FAST are relocating to the new resettlement housing district further away from the telescope. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) (credit:VCG via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Under Construction(06 of10)
PINGTANG, CHINA - MAY 07: (CHINA OUT) Aerial view of the construction site of a Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) on May 7, 2016 in Pingtang County, Guizhou Province of China. The dish-like telescope, as large as 30 football fields, will be completed in September 2016. (credit:VCG via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Currently Under Construction In China(07 of10)
PINGTANG, CHINA - NOVEMBER 26: A view of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) currently under construction, on November 26, 2015 in Pingtang, China. \n\nThe project, one of China\'s nine most important scientific research facilities, will be the world\'s largest radio telescope upon completion by September 2016.\n\nPHOTOGRAPH BY Feature China / Barcroft Media\n\nUK Office, London.\nT +44 845 370 2233\nW www.barcroftmedia.com\n\nUSA Office, New York City.\nT +1 212 796 2458\nW www.barcroftusa.com\n\nIndian Office, Delhi.\nT +91 11 4053 2429\nW www.barcroftindia.com (Photo credit should read Feature China / Barcroft Media / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Currently Under Construction In China(08 of10)
PINGTANG, CHINA - NOVEMBER 26: A view of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) currently under construction, on November 26, 2015 in Pingtang, China. \n\nThe project, one of China\'s nine most important scientific research facilities, will be the world\'s largest radio telescope upon completion by September 2016.\n\nPHOTOGRAPH BY Feature China / Barcroft Media\n\nUK Office, London.\nT +44 845 370 2233\nW www.barcroftmedia.com\n\nUSA Office, New York City.\nT +1 212 796 2458\nW www.barcroftusa.com\n\nIndian Office, Delhi.\nT +91 11 4053 2429\nW www.barcroftindia.com (Photo credit should read Feature China / Barcroft Media / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
World's Largest Radio Telescope Currently Under Construction In China(09 of10)
PINGTANG, CHINA - NOVEMBER 26: A view of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) currently under construction, on November 26, 2015 in Pingtang, China. \n\nThe project, one of China\'s nine most important scientific research facilities, will be the world\'s largest radio telescope upon completion by September 2016.\n\nPHOTOGRAPH BY Feature China / Barcroft Media\n\nUK Office, London.\nT +44 845 370 2233\nW www.barcroftmedia.com\n\nUSA Office, New York City.\nT +1 212 796 2458\nW www.barcroftusa.com\n\nIndian Office, Delhi.\nT +91 11 4053 2429\nW www.barcroftindia.com (Photo credit should read Feature China / Barcroft Media / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) (credit:Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
CHINA-SCIENCE/(10 of10)
The last panel of China\'s world largest radio telescope named \"FAST\", is installed in Pingtang county, Guizhou Province, China, July 3, 2016. China Daily/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY (credit:China Daily China Daily Information Corp - CDIC / Reuters)