射电天文研究组知识库

A brief introduction of the development of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) in China since 1980s is presented in this paper. The first two VLBI stations located in Shanghai and Urumqi were built in 1987 and 1993, respectively. Each station operates a radio telescope with a diameter of 25 meter. These two stations have been benefited greatly from the collaborations with European colleagues, especially from Prof. Richard T. Schilizzi. Shanghai and Urumqi telescopes became the full members of the European VLBI Network (EVN) since 1994. Prof. Richard T. Schilizzi played an important role in establishing the exchange and cooperation between European and Chinese astronomers and engineers in the field of VLBI research and technique. In 2006, two new radio telescopes were built near Beijing (diameter of 50 meter) and near Kunming (diameter of 40 meter), which mainly serve for VLBI tracking of the Chinese lunar exploration satellites. Another new radio telescope with a diameter of 65 meter is under construction in the western suburb of Shanghai. An initial effort for space VLBI is being considered in China. We are looking forward to seeing more close cooperation between Europe and China in future.