A viral fake news post on social media platform X falsely claimed China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) — the world's largest single-dish radio telescope — was 'in ruins.' The post, viewed over 500,000 times, used a photo of the collapsed Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico , a U.S.-funded telescope that suffered structural failures in 2020. Talk about mixing up the stars!
FAST, operational since 2016, remains fully intact and has doubled Arecibo's observational capabilities. While the U.S. facility won't be rebuilt (RIP, Arecibo ), China's 'Sky Eye' continues scanning the cosmos — and is even accepting observation proposals for 2024-2025!
This isn't the first time misinformation has linked FAST to Arecibo's demise. Similar claims circulated after the 2020 collapse, with some users falsely labeling disaster photos as China's telescope. Pro tip: Check before you share!
Maintained by advanced robotics, FAST remains critical for astronomy breakthroughs — from pulsar discoveries to potential alien signals . Young researchers worldwide can apply for observation time via its official website. Now that's a stellar opportunity!
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, a U.S.-funded telescope that suffered structural failures in 2020. Talk about mixing up the stars! 
), China's 'Sky Eye' continues scanning the cosmos — and is even accepting observation proposals for 2024-2025! 
. Young researchers worldwide can apply for observation time via its official website. Now that's a stellar opportunity! 
