China has unveiled the Three Gorges Antarctic Eye, a 3.2-meter aperture radio/millimeter wave telescope operating in the radio/millimeter wave range, at a research station in Antarctica.
Officially launched at the Zhongshan Antarctic Station on April 3, the telescope, jointly developed by China Three Gorges University (CTGU) and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), further consolidated China’s success in Antarctic astronomy.
“The Three Gorges Antarctic Eye has officially begun scientific observations of the Milky Way’s neutral hydrogen and ammonia spectral lines, providing vital data to help unravel the dynamics of interstellar gas and star formation processes, CTGU told Xinhua on Monday.
“This telescope has overcome key technical obstacles in the construction of the Antarctic Observatory, laying the foundation for future submillimeter-wave telescopes in Antarctica,” said Zhang Yi, an associate professor at SNU and a member of the Chinese Antarctic expedition team currently working on the continent.
He added that the device will extend radio-band observations to low-frequency millimeter waves, which will contribute to technological advances for next-generation Antarctic astronomical instruments.
CTGU Associate Professor Zeng Xianyun noted that Antarctica is the coldest continent on Earth, and the extreme cold and strong winds pose significant challenges to the development and installation of radio telescopes.
Since 2023, CTGU has been actively cooperating with the SNU to solve the problems of conducting astronomical research in extreme conditions. Over the past two years, the researchers have overcome key technical hurdles, such as adapting equipment to Antarctica’s harsh sub-zero temperatures and hurricane-force winds, Zeng said.
He Weijun, party leader of the CTGU, emphasized the importance of the project.
“The successful operation of the Three Gorges Antarctic Eye demonstrates our university’s achievements in polar research equipment,” he said.
“It reflects the spirit of Chinese scientists who are conquering new heights in science and technology, as well as the vital role of universities in national innovation,” he added.
Once the telescope is in stable operation, CTGU plans to send researchers to Zhongshan Station to conduct on-site scientific expeditions.
China is continuously expanding its astronomical capabilities in Antarctica, taking advantage of the continent’s pristine atmospheric conditions for infrared and millimeter-wave observations.
The deployment of the Three Gorges Antarctic Eye builds on China’s previous initiatives, including the AST3 Antarctic Survey Telescope and other astronomical instruments, further enhancing global efforts to study space phenomena from one of the most remote places on Earth.
