4 ms·

Well, one reason why it may not be worth bothering is because of the existence of FAST. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-hundred-meter_Aperture_Spherical_Tel

Well, one reason why it may not be worth bothering is because of the existence of FAST. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-hundred-meter_Aperture_Spherical_Telescope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five-hundred-meter_Aperture_Sp... It's bigger, more steerable, and better in (almost) every way, although one could imagine reasons why its location in China could be problematic.

progman32 6y ago
FAST cannot do radar astronomy, as it has no transmitting capability. Among other things, this means FAST is less useful for tracking near-earth asteroids.
- ngcc_hk 6y ago
  It is not what it can or cannot. It is whether it is part of the world community in a real sense. When they plan it, who is involved, why it is where it is and why no Radar out ?
- DaiPlusPlus 6y ago
  I assume that due to the rotation of the earth that when Arecibo emits a radar beam that other radio-telescopes on earth collect? Otherwise only objects within Arecibo’s relatively narrow FoV (that are also very close to earth) would be detected - so wouldn’t a purpose-built (and steerable!) radar emitter be more useful?
  - notthemessiah 6y ago
    Arecibo was steerable, that's what the receiver array was for.
    - Aeolun 6y ago
      Sort of, 5 degrees isn’t exactly a lot.
  - mulmen 6y ago
    Nope, it transmitted and received. The range was limited to about Jupiter because the dish would move over the effective horizon before the signals returned. Pretty incredible!
ngcc_hk 6y ago
It is not the location it is the culture. And the commerical part to it. (Not just politics, china is state capitalism if you want a short name) no money no er and I do not follow up to set up a tourist town next door or perhaps collapse in current env. Then politics will play a part, not because of its being communist but once again its way of doing business. Russia work a bit with USA on aerospace area. What China does so far other than national glory? Have putting instrument on the moon and collect moon soil work with others. How? What is the catch? Still waiting for the largest collider to be discussed. But then all business and politics (as business). It might be the next world power. But it would not be another USA or Soviet Union. Or Russia foe that matter. History is not kind to chinese and china. Hope it is better for the humanity.

progman32 6y ago

FAST cannot do radar astronomy, as it has no transmitting capability. Among other things, this means FAST is less useful for tracking near-earth asteroids.

ngcc_hk 6y ago
It is not what it can or cannot. It is whether it is part of the world community in a real sense. When they plan it, who is involved, why it is where it is and why no Radar out ?
DaiPlusPlus 6y ago
I assume that due to the rotation of the earth that when Arecibo emits a radar beam that other radio-telescopes on earth collect? Otherwise only objects within Arecibo’s relatively narrow FoV (that are also very close to earth) would be detected - so wouldn’t a purpose-built (and steerable!) radar emitter be more useful?
- notthemessiah 6y ago
  Arecibo was steerable, that's what the receiver array was for.
  - Aeolun 6y ago
    Sort of, 5 degrees isn’t exactly a lot.
- mulmen 6y ago
  Nope, it transmitted and received. The range was limited to about Jupiter because the dish would move over the effective horizon before the signals returned. Pretty incredible!

ngcc_hk 6y ago

It is not the location it is the culture. And the commerical part to it. (Not just politics, china is state capitalism if you want a short name) no money no er and I do not follow up to set up a tourist town next door or perhaps collapse in current env. Then politics will play a part, not because of its being communist but once again its way of doing business. Russia work a bit with USA on aerospace area. What China does so far other than national glory? Have putting instrument on the moon and collect moon soil work with others. How? What is the catch? Still waiting for the largest collider to be discussed. But then all business and politics (as business). It might be the next world power. But it would not be another USA or Soviet Union. Or Russia foe that matter. History is not kind to chinese and china. Hope it is better for the humanity.