China to build observatory in South pole

File photo of China's Kunlun Station in south pole

As Chinese scientists started the 26th Antarctica expedition on October 11, China comes closer towards the goal of establishing the observatory in South Pole.

One of the two exploration teams will head to China's Kunlun Station located at Dome A, the highest and coldest point on the continent at 4,093 meters above sea level, which is also the best place for astronomical observation on earth.

"Until now, China's self-developed automated observation equipment has worked continuously for 270 days at Dome A, which broke the world record," said Wang Lifan, a researcher from the Chinese Center for Antarctic Astronomy. "Our goal is to establish the best observatory to explore the origin of universe and signs of extraterrestrial life."

The scientists were expected to return to Shanghai on April 10 next year.

China launched its first expedition to the Antarctic in 1984 and has set up three stations there.

According to the Polar Research Institute of China, the Chinese have made nearly 4,000 visits to the South Pole during the past 25years.

By People's Daily Online