China Is Building the World’s Largest Telescope: Project Details Remain a Secret

Will China Build the World’s Largest Telescope?

In China’s Qinghai province, far from city lights and civilization, scientists are undertaking a project that may surprise even the largest astronomical institutions. At a 4,500-meter peak, the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) is preparing to launch LOT – the Large Optical Telescope, boasting an impressive 14.5-meter diameter. Despite the enormous scale of this undertaking, almost complete silence surrounds the project. Official mentions in documents and media remain terse. For the scientific community, this comes as quite a surprise, as all signs indicate China intends to build what will be the world’s largest telescope.

“From what I know, it’s true. And it will certainly put China in the top league,” Robert Kirshner, a cosmologist from Harvard University, told Science.

Kirshner also leads the Thirty Meter Telescope project, which awaits implementation. Chinese astronomers expect their telescope to begin operations as early as 2030. If this happens, LOT could briefly hold the title of the world’s largest telescope before the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is ready.

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The World’s Largest Telescope and Its Secrets

The construction site was chosen for good reason. A dry climate, clear skies, and a lack of light pollution make Qinghai an ideal location for observing the cosmos. LOT is set to be the main attraction of an entire telescope complex, comprising nine planned research projects awaiting implementation.

Although the world’s largest telescope promises to be impressive, its details remain shrouded in mystery. We do not know what the telescope’s mirror will look like or how they will mount it. We only know that the device will enable observations in visible and infrared light, which is standard for constructions of this class.

According to information from the project website, Gu Bozhong from the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology is the chief engineer. Gu mentioned in an interview with China Science Daily that he dreams of completing the telescope before his retirement. Beyond that, however, he revealed no further details. NAOC limited its comment to:

“Project details are still subject to further research.”

USA Doesn’t Want to Relinquish the Lead

The world’s largest telescope planned by China poses a significant challenge to the United States’ position. American scientists are currently lobbying for support for their own projects, namely the aforementioned Thirty Meter Telescope and the Giant Magellan Telescope in Chile.

Both American telescopes are estimated to cost a total of $1.6 billion. Given the announced budget cuts by the Donald Trump administration, easy approval for such large expenditures seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, the Chinese are not slowing down. Information has emerged that NAOC plans to build a second 14.5-meter diameter telescope. This one would serve for wide-field spectroscopic surveys, and its location would be the Cerro Ventarrones mountains in Chile – a site previously considered for the ELT as well. If the project comes to fruition, China could become the only country in the world attempting to build the world’s largest telescope in two different locations.

Space Looks East

The construction of LOT is not merely an impressive engineering project. It also represents a symbolic shift in global science. While America and Europe debate budgets and locations, China simply builds – with determination and efficiency.

Today, LOT remains a project veiled in secrecy. But if everything goes according to plan, the world’s largest telescope will soon stand in Lenghu. And though it is rising quietly, its significance may resonate louder than anyone expects.

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