The largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere is about to operate

Next week South Africa will launch the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere with the hope of becoming a tourist attraction like watching stars. The above information was announced by the country's Minister of Science and Technology last weekend.

Large South African telescope is located on a windy hilltop

President Thabo Mbeki will officially cut the inauguration band of the South African Large Telescope (SALT) next Thursday at an observatory near the city of Sutherland. According to the Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena, Sutherland has a geographical advantage because it is in the arid and remote Karoo region, with a clear sky, convenient for observing the universe.

From the southern hemisphere, it is possible to study in detail and observe better certain areas of the universe, such as galaxies around the Milky Way. That's why many scientists come to the southern hemisphere. In addition, many ordinary people will also go to Sutherland to admire the telescopes. Mr. Mangena believes in building SALT and will definitely promote science tourism in South Africa.

SALT is a giant telescope, with 6 edges, 12 m in diameter. It is made up of many smaller six-sided mirrors. This device will help scientists observe stars and galaxies that are billions of times thinner than the naked eye can see. It also observes quasars - celestial bodies that look like bright stars but are actually black holes at the center of galaxies.

Quasars are the most distant celestial bodies in the universe. The light coming to where we are now is released billions of years ago when they were young. Therefore, observations will shed some light on the evolution of the universe.

Mangena also said South Africa is trying to be chosen as the world's largest telescope construction site - an international project with a budget of nearly $ 1 billion. The winning nation will be announced in 2008. Scientists hope it will help them trace the origin of stars and galaxies and how the planets form.

Minh Son ( According to AFP )