Nestled among the rugged peaks of Sichuan’s Daocheng County – 3,800 meters above sea level – lies a sci-fi movie-worthy marvel: the Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope. With 313 antennas forming a 1-kilometer-wide ring, this cosmic listening post tracks the sun’s explosive "sneezes" (aka solar eruptions) that could fry satellites, disrupt GPS, and endanger astronauts. 🚀⚡
Why care? These solar tantrums blast charged particles at Earth at millions of mph. The telescope’s real-time data helps scientists predict space weather – like a cosmic early-warning system for our tech-dependent world. From protecting SpaceX launches to safeguarding your TikTok livestreams 📱, this innovation shows how China’s cutting-edge science tackles global challenges. 🌍🔬
Fun fact: The high-altitude location minimizes atmospheric interference, making it the world’s largest radio telescope dedicated to solar monitoring. Who said saving civilization from solar storms can’t look cool? 😎
Reference(s):
cgtn.com