Jangheung-gun Jeongnamjin Astronomy Science Center Introduces Jeonnam's Largest 800mm Reflecting Telescope

International Space Station (ISS), Artificial Satellite Observation Possible

A celestial telescope system (800mm RC) has been installed at Jeonnamjin Astronomy Science Center. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Jangheung＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Jangheung-gun Jeongnamjin Astronomy Science Center has installed the largest and highest-performance astronomical telescope system (800mm RC) in Jeonnam.

According to the county on the 6th, the Jeongnamjin Astronomy Science Center was selected for the Local Science Museum Capacity Building Project hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and promoted the ‘Jeongnamjin Astronomy Science Center Telescope Improvement Project.’

The newly introduced telescope includes an 800mm aperture Ritchey?Chr?tien main telescope (RC), a 600mm aperture Nasmyth reflector telescope, and five auxiliary telescopes (2 reflectors, 2 refractors, and a solar telescope).

Generally, the larger the aperture of an astronomical telescope, the better its light-gathering power.

The 800mm aperture reflector telescope has about 13,000 times the light-gathering power of the human eye and twice that of the existing main telescope (600mm), allowing clear observation of celestial bodies such as nebulae and star clusters that are usually too dim to see.

In addition, with a direct drive motor and absolute encoder installed, it can observe the fast-moving International Space Station (ISS), and through collaboration with university research facilities using AI voice recognition and remote systems, it is expected to conduct research on light pollution and explore exoplanets beyond the solar system.

A county official said, “With the introduction of the high-performance telescope system at the Astronomy Science Center, we can provide visitors with an experience to explore space and satisfy their curiosity,” adding, “It will be a great opportunity for growing students to cultivate their interest in space.”

The Jeongnamjin Astronomy Science Center is a facility applying COVID-19 quarantine passes, limiting the number of visitors to 20 per session, and can be visited without a reservation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.