Hey space fans! 🌌 China’s AST3-2 telescope at Dome A (the highest peak of the Antarctic plateau) recently wrapped its 2025 polar night observing session. After the polar night ended with the solar battery recharging on August 25, 2025, the telescope called it a season – and what a season it was!
Here’s the scoop on this epic mission:
- 12 years in action: AST3-2 has been chilling at Dome A since 2014, braving the cold without on-site maintenance for three years.
- Data haul: Over the 2025 season, it logged 1,000 hours of observations and collected a whopping 3.5 TB of data 💾.
- Research highlights: High-inclination asteroid tracking, exoplanet hunts, and photometric studies of supermassive black holes.
- Tech marvel: Second-gen design with anti-snow sealing, low-temp anti-frost features, and an innovative optical system 🔭.
Run by the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics & Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, AST3-2 is pushing the boundaries of what we know about the universe – all from one of the coldest, most remote spots on Earth.
As the team gears up for 2026, we can’t wait to see what cosmic mysteries AST3-2 will uncover next! Stay tuned for more space vibes and discoveries. ✨
Reference(s):
China's Antarctic survey telescope completes 2025 night observations
cgtn.com
