On 26-27 June 2017, an advisory workshop on preliminary design of the QiTai radio Telescope (QTT) was held in Urumqi. World-renowned experts from more than ten astronomical observatories took part in the Workshop at the invitation of the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory (XAO). This included the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy and the Chinese Academy of Engineering and so on. The Workshop was convened for the purpose of consulting and assessing the initial design scheme of the telescope.

At the Workshop, Dr. Na Wang, Director of XAO, introduced the integrated planning and progress of the QTT project. The experts discussed and evaluated the preliminary design scheme of QTT on topics such as the antenna structure, main reflector control and adjustment, signal receiver system, electro-magnetic compatibility and the radio environment protection.

The QTT project scheme and the preliminary design for the technical subsystems were approved and well received by the experts at the Workshop, and the proposed technical schemes were ranked with the world’s most advanced level. An international expert advisory report that based on the discussion at the Workshop has been constructed. The report will serve as a guide for the QTT project team for further optimization on the technical schemes to ensure their scientificness, perspectiveness and feasibility in the project.

Currently, QTT project is part of the “13th Five Year Plan” of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and the related plan of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Meanwhile, the infrastructure of the Qitai site has fully entered into the construction phase.

Dr. Na Wang, Director of XAO, introducing the QTT project

QiTai radio Telescope (QTT) Preliminary Design Advisory Workshop

The experts and QTT team taken in a group photo of the workshop