Past Events

Abstract:

During the last decade, astronomy in China has experienced enormous advances, among which the most significant progress is reflected by the construction and development of large astronomical facilities. This talk will give a brief introduction of some facilities and missions representing current status of astronomy in China as well as future projects in designing and planning. Many ground-based facilities have been or are planned to be built, including the Large sky Area Multi-Object fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST), which is unique in combining a 4-meter large aperture with 5-degree wide field of view and worldly renowned for its unprecedented 4000 fibers for spectroscopy; the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), with an efficient radius of 300 meters and taking advantage of the unique Karst depression of the site; the 21 CentiMeter Antenna (21CMA), which aims to carry out a survey to detect the first light after Big Bang, and a number of facilities for solar physics such as Huairou Solar Observing Station, 1-m Optical and Near-IR Solar Tower, ONSET and CSRH. On the other hand, progresses in space missions are also remarkable. With the successful launch of the first dedicated Chinese space astronomy satellite Chang?, several more missions with strong international collaborations are planned for launch in between 2010 through 2015, which includes the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT), a multi-wavelength GRB project - SVOM, the World Space Observatory (WSO), space lab for GRB polarization - POLAR, and also a series of space telescopes for solar physics like Space Solar Telescope (SST), SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions (SMESE) project. The development of large facilities vividly witnesses and strongly reflects the impressing progress taking place in the astronomy of China, and also promises a more prosperous future for Chinese astronomy.

Coffee and tea will be served 20 minutes prior to the seminar.