China Completes Construction of its First Space Weather Radio Telescope

China Completes Construction of its First Space Weather Radio Telescope

China has completed the construction of its first interplanetary scintillation observation telescope, a device used for studying space weather, on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Xilingol League, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Interplanetary scintillation (IPS) refers to random fluctuations in the radio intensity of distant celestial objects over time. IPS telescopes can be used to measure both the solar wind speed and the micro-turbulence spectrum of interplanetary plasma.

The solar wind is created by the outward expansion of plasma (a collection of charged particles) from the Sun's corona (outermost atmosphere). This plasma is continually heated to the point that the Sun's gravity cannot hold it down. It then travels along the Sun's magnetic field lines that extend radially outward. As the Sun rotates (once every 27 days), it winds up its magnetic field lines above its polar regions into a large rotating spiral, creating a constant stream of "wind."

Video Credit: China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: May 11, 2024

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