🚨 Heads up, space enthusiasts! Rumors have been swirling on social media platform X about China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) being in ruins. But guess what? It's all fake news! 🛑
Earlier this week, a post went viral claiming that FAST had collapsed, gathering over half a million views. The post even featured a photo of a destroyed telescope. But here's the catch—the image was actually of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, U.S., which sadly collapsed back in 2020 due to structural issues. Talk about a plot twist! 🎬
The misinformation tried to downplay China's achievement, pointing out how FAST surpassed Arecibo's performance by a factor of 2.25. Ironically, the photo they used actually highlights FAST's superior design and maintenance. Oops! 😅
For those who don't know, Arecibo was once the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1960s. It had an impressive run but passed the torch to FAST when it was built. Now, Arecibo is being transformed into an educational center. 📚
Meanwhile, China's FAST telescope stands tall as the only one of its kind in the world! 🌏 Thanks to proactive maintenance and cutting-edge robotic technology, FAST is safeguarded against the issues that led to Arecibo's downfall. So rest assured, it's alive and kicking! 💪
This isn't the first time fake news has tried to muddy the waters. Similar claims popped up back when Arecibo collapsed, falsely portraying the disaster as happening in China. Don't be fooled! 🚫
Here's the stellar news: FAST is open for business! 🌠 They're accepting proposals for observation time from August 2024 to July 2025. Aspiring astronomers, this is your chance! Check out the official FAST website for more details. 🚀
So next time you see sensational claims online, remember to double-check and keep reaching for the stars! ✨
Reference(s):
Fake news uses U.S. rival to try to bury China's super telescope
cgtn.com
