[Astronomy] Taiwan's Largest Telescope to Be Completed in 2016: National Central University

[Astronomy] Taiwan's Largest Telescope to Be Completed in 2016: National Central University (Chinese Version)

National Central University News (2011/07/13) & CNA (2011/07/12) The construction of the largest telescope in Taiwan by National Central University (NCU) will be completed in 2016 and is expected to significantly boost Taiwan's ability to conduct astronomical observations, university officials said Tuesday at a press conference to introduce the telescope project.

The 2-meter optical telescope will raise the country's astronomical observation capacity by at least 10 times with its four-color simultaneous imager that enables accurate color measurements, and fully depleted charge-coupled devices, which can achieve higher sensitivity, said officials.

It will be used to track and conduct follow-up observations on new discoveries made by the U.S.-proposed Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS), to search for celestial objects that might collide with earth, the officials said.

The NCU's telescope will be located at the university's Lulin Observatory, the officials went on. The observatory, situated in Yushan National Park, is at an altitude of 2,862 meters, making it one of the highest observatories in Asia.

Established in 1999, the Lulin Observatory currently houses the Taiwan-American Occultation Survey 0.5-meter wide-field telescopes, and a one-meter telescope, which has already been instrumental in making Taiwan's first asteroid and comet discoveries.

The NCU telescope, which has been under construction for three years, will be completed with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Taiwan's Delta Electronics Inc., one of the world's leading providers of power supplies, the officials continued.


Related Historical Messages:
[International Cooperation][Astronomy] Pan-STARRS Program Begins to Operate; Taiwan Scholars Take Parts 2010/06/27
[International Cooperation][Astronomy] Pan-STARRS Program Identifies First Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2010/10/15
[Astronomy] Asteroid Entitled Likwohting to Honor Taiwan Sci-tech Magnate 2011/01/26
[Science Education][International Participation] Taiwanese High School Students Discover Asteroids 2011/05/28


Further Information:
National Central University News 2011/07/13 (Chinese)
CNA 2011/07/12

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