China has unveiled the world’s first telescope designed to observe the sun’s magnetic field in the infrared spectrum, filling a global gap in solar research, a partner of the TV BRICS network reported.
The telescope, named AIMS (an acronym for Infrared System for the Accurate Measurement of Solar Magnetic Field), was recently certified and officially inaugurated.
Located in Qinghai Province at an altitude of around 4,000 metres, the telescope uses infrared spectroscopy to make highly precise observations across a broad wavelength range.
Developed domestically, AIMS is equipped with advanced components such as vacuum-cooled detectors and high-tech optical systems, highlighting China’s growing independence in astronomical instrumentation, according to a report by Guancha.cn.
Following its approval through a national evaluation process, the telescope will now be used in scientific research and will support China’s efforts in space weather forecasting and solar studies.
