LHASA. Chinese scientists are working on building the largest refracting telescope in the world to be able to observe stars and planets from the Tibet Autonomous Region. Wang Junjie, deputy director of the regional science and technology department, said work on the optical telescope, with an aperture of one meter, has already started in the regional capital of Lhasa. With its high altitudes and clear skies, Tibet is considered one of the best places in the world for observing celestial bodies.
A refracting telescope is an instrument that uses a combination of lenses to produce images of distant objects in space that would not be visible to the human eye. Wang added that scientists will use it to carry out aerospace investigations, such as tracking asteroids near Earth. The project, led by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also involves the dissemination of astronomical science. Scientists will be able to use the internet to view images, videos and interactive features from the unique perspective of the large telescope. According to Wang, the telescope will be mounted on a regional planetarium, whose work will likely begin this year, which will become the tallest astronomical observatory in the world.