At the top of the world, China’s AST3-2 telescope at Dome A has just wrapped up a stellar run! 🌌🔭 Last year, the second-generation Antarctic survey telescope completed its 2025 polar night observations, officially ending the season on August 25, 2025, when its solar battery kicked in.
AST3-2 is the largest-aperture optical telescope working in the Antarctic inland. Over three consecutive years, it has braved extreme cold and remoteness, collecting a whopping 3.5 terabytes of data across 1,000 hours of effective observation time.
What did it capture? From high-inclination asteroids zooming through space to distant exoplanets and the flickering light around supermassive black holes, AST3-2’s remote eyes are helping scientists unlock cosmic mysteries.
Developed by the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics & Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, AST3-2 features cutting-edge anti-snow sealing and low-temperature anti-frost technologies. Even without maintenance teams on site for three years, it bounced back after a quick check-up in early 2024—talk about resilience!
With 12 years of operation under its belt, AST3-2 is a shining example of innovation from the Chinese mainland in extreme environments. As researchers dive into the mountain of data, who knows what new discoveries await? Stay tuned for more cosmic adventures! 🚀
Reference(s):
China's Antarctic survey telescope completes 2025 night observations
cgtn.com
