FAST, the most modern radio telescope in the world located in China's Guizhou Province, will begin operating in September to search for extraterrestrial life, as well as monitor China's space program.

The Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in built into a natural hollow or karst in Pingtang County. Key components of FAST have already been tested with the mirror passing equipment tests in November 2015.

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FAST is the second largest radio telescope in the world after the RATAN-600 in Zelenchukskaya, Russia that has been operational since 1974. It will cost over $180 million to build.

FAST's main mirror, which has a diameter of 500 meters, will consist of 4,600 triangular panels. It is similar in design to the Arecibo Observatory. Locating the telescope dish in a natural hollow provides stronger support for the dish.

Locating FAST three miles away from the nearest inhabited town will give the radio telescope the perfect radio silence needed to do its job better. Pingtang County officials relocated some 9,000 persons to make way for the construction of the radio telescope.

FAST will also be used by Chinese scientists to uncover new secrets of physics and dark matter.

TagsFive hundred meter aperture spherical telescope, FAST, Pingtang County, Guizhou Province