China has focused on two areas in astronomy for which working in Antarctica would give it a leg up over other countries, says John Storey, an astronomer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, who is involved in several Antarctic projects, including China’s. “I think everyone is watching and hoping they go ahead” with telescopes that would explore such things as how stars form, the origins of the universe, dark matter and dark energy, and whether life exists on other planets.
China’s two focus areas are optical/IR astronomy and terahertz, or submillimeter, astronomy; IR and submillimeter wavelengths in particular are generally recognized as promising research directions in Antarctica, and projects are under way by other countries as well. The Chinese plan is to erect several telescopes at Dome A, which at 4093 m is the highest site on the Antarctic plateau and boasts calm, cold, dry,...
