A top astronomer says China is to install several large telescopes to help unlock the secrets of the universe.
Ai Guoxiang, head of the National Astronomical Observatories, says China plans to produce a telescope with the world's highest spectrum acquiring rate, for use near its Beijing base.
The telescope will be open to foreign countries, and will have the capacity to survey 4,000 celestial bodies when completed.
Ai Guoxiang says China also plans to build the world's largest radio telescope to receive electric waves from space, in southwest China's Guizhou Province.
China will also install a large astronomical telescope in southwestern Yunnan Province in a bid to improve the country's astrophysics research.
Additionally, China is planning to launch its first space telescope into orbit to study solar physical frontiers.
Asteroids Named After First Manned Spacecraft, Spaceman
Beijing (XNA) Mar 17, 2005 A grand ceremony was held at Beijing's "space city" Wednesday, to mark the naming of two asteroids after "Shenzhou," China's first manned space vehicle, and Yang Liwei, the country's first man to orbit in space.
The naming has been approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Lu Yongxiang, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Chen Bingde, director of the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), handed over the certificates and bronze plaques to the headquarters of China's Manned Space Program and to the Chinese astronaut.
The two asteroids, No.8256 and No.21064, were discovered by Chinese and foreign astronomers in 1981 and 1991.