China’s AliCPT-1 Captures Images of the Moon and Jupiter

AliCPT
Picture of China Minutes

China Minutes

Work Link

China’s AliCPT-1 Captures Images of the Moon and Jupiter

China’s AliCPT-1 telescope has captured its first crisp images of the moon and Jupiter. The breakthrough marks a major step in primordial gravitational wave research.

AliCPT
File photo shows a panoramic view of the Phase I observation site of the AliCPT experiment. (Photo courtesy of the IHEP)

Scientists at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) announced that their AliCPT-1 telescope captured its first crisp images of the Moon and Jupiter at 150 GHz. This milestone marks the official start of China’s search for primordial gravitational waves.

Zhang Xinmin from IHEP said the team finished installing and commissioning the telescope in 2025 after eight years of work. Despite challenges like high-altitude oxygen shortage, they achieved remote control and data transfer between the Ali site in Xizang and Beijing.

Primordial gravitational waves are seen as “fossil signals” from the early universe. Detecting them is key to understanding the origin of the cosmos and is considered a frontier in basic science.

“If we successfully detect primordial gravitational waves, we will glimpse the universe in its very first instant,” said Zhang Xinmin.

“At the same time, it can drive breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies like cryogenic superconducting detectors and low-temperature readout electronics, thus propelling cosmology into an era of unprecedented precision,” he said.

The moon and Jupiter experiment is just the beginning, said Li Hong, also a researcher at IHEP. “As the Northern Hemisphere’s first high-altitude primordial gravitational-wave observatory, the telescope fills a gap for China and, together with devices in Antarctica and Chile, completes a global, complementary network.”

Additional reporting by Xinhua and CNS.

If you liked this article, why not read: China’s High-Speed Rail in Numbers

Related Posts

Yue Opera London
Garden of Love Yue Opera Performance to Grace London
Ma Long
World Games Boost Chengdu's Inbound Tourism: Park City's Charm Attracts Global Tourists
yiwu
Proposals for Formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan to be Studied in October
Bute Noir Festival
Bute Noir Brings Famed Chinese Authors to Scotland
Foshan
China takes actions to prevent and control the spread of Chikungunya fever
why reptiles are popular in China
Why Reptiles Are the Coolest Pets in China
搜狗高速浏览器截图20250730165137
Charity Work for 20 Years: A Germany Volunteer’s Legendary Life in China
China Business Digest July
China Business Digest July - Engage With China As a UK Business
Robot PhD student in China
Art Meets AI: China’s First Robot PhD Student Takes the Stage
Paul Assmy2
Beyond Borders: Dr. Assmy's Century-Old Legacy in Chongqing
Scroll to Top
Receive the latest news

Subscribe To Our Free Newsletter

Updates on Chinese events each month.
News roundups straight to your inbox.
Exclusive content and giveaways.