During China's 38th Antarctic scientific expedition, the first astronomical observation station in Zhongshan Station in Antarctica was built, where a set of small telescope array composed of five mirror tubes, which can carry out large field observation at four optical waveband and near-infrared observation at the same time was installed.
It has been put into winter observation operation at present.
Nanjing Institute of Astronomy and Optics Technology (NIAOT) has provided astronomical observation equipment for the Antarctic Kunlun Station, Taishan Station and Zhongshan Station to develop an astronomical observation link of Zhongshan Station-Taishan Station-Kunlun Station, and promote the systematic development of Antarctic astronomical observation. The small telescope array has 4 optical waveband tubes with single tube aperture of 150mm, field of view 6° and a near-infrared tube (at 0.9-1.7 micron) with aperture of 200mm, field of view 7'x5.6'.
The five tubes are integrated on a direct-drive equator, which can carry out time-domain astronomical observation such as extrasolar planets and space environment observation. 
Joint installation of astronomical observation platforms and telescope arrays First light: Multiolor images of the Little Magellanic Cloud galaxy |
