Hey there! π€© Did you hear about the awesome achievement by Chinese scientists? They used lasers to measure the distance to a satellite near the Moon during the daytime! ππ
Measuring distances in space using lasers is like using a super-precise ruler made of light. Usually, it’s done at night because the Sun’s bright light makes it hard to see the laser beams. But these clever scientists figured out how to do it even when the Sun is shining! Isn’t that cool? π
The satellite they measured is called Tiandu-1, and it’s about 130,000 kilometers away from Earth. That’s like stacking over 10,000 Earths in a line! πππ
To make this happen, the team used a special telescope with a fancy laser system. They had to solve big challenges, like ignoring the Sun’s light, which is a bit like trying to see a firefly next to a spotlight! π¦β¨
This breakthrough helps scientists make better maps of space and can improve how we navigate among the stars. It also helps with future space projects, like building research stations on the Moon! ππ
Scientists from different places in China worked together on this project, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences and universities. Working as a team makes amazing things possible! π€
The Tiandu-1 satellite was launched on March 20, 2024, and it orbits between Earth and the Moon. It’s helping us learn more about space communication and exploration. π°οΈ
Isn’t space science fascinating? Maybe one day, you’ll be part of an exciting discovery like this! Keep looking up! π
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists achieve daytime laser ranging in Earth-moon space
cgtn.com