China has completed its first overseas new-generation radio telescope in northern Thailand, bolstering a global scientific network that monitors deep space signals and tracks subtle shifts in the Earth’s rotation and tectonic plates. The 13-metre (43-foot) radio antenna, jointly developed by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, was officially inaugurated in Chiang Mai on May 16, according to the observatory’s WeChat account. Together with a second telescope under construction in Songkhla, southern Thailand, the station will enhance deep-space tracking and high-precision Earth monitoring, contributing to more accurate GPS, climate research and earthquake forecasting. Ding Chibiao, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described the Chiang Mai telescope as “a role model of scientific cooperation between China and Thailand”. Supachai Pathumnakul, permanent secretary of Thailand’s higher education and science ministry, said the telescope reflected the growing scientific partnership between the two nations and would deliver high quality data for global research efforts. By April, it had completed a full 24-hour observation session – including enhanced measurements of Earth’s rotation – as part of a network of similar Chinese telescopes.

The two telescopes in Thailand are part of a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), which links multiple radio telescopes across vast distances to function as one enormous, Earth-sized antenna. These features allow the instrument to process vast amounts of information in real time, supporting continuous and highly accurate observations of both space and Earth, according to the observatory.

While traditional VLBI systems relied on slower measurements and narrower bandwidths, new-generation stations are designed to provide faster, continuous monitoring with unprecedented precision, meeting the demands of modern geodesy and space science.

All are 13-metre new-generation antennas, and together they form part of the Chinese VLBI Network.

The 13-metre (43-foot) telescope, was made by both the Shanghai Huge observatory and the National Huge Research Institute of Thailand.

By April, it had completed a 24-hour observation session.

Which included improved measurements of Earth's rotation, as part of a network of similar Chinese telescopes.

Together with a second telescope under construction in Songkhla, southern Thailand, the station will improve deep-space watching and following and high-quality Earth monitoring.

It will give a more accurate GPS, climate research and earthquake forecasting.

They are part of a technique called Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), which links multiple radio telescopes across huge distances to function as one huge antenna.

These features allow the instrument to process huge amounts of information in real time, supporting continuous and highly accurate observation of both space and Earth.

traditional VLBI systems depended on slower measurements and narrower radio frequencies.

New-generation stations are designed to provide faster, continuous supervising with never-before-seen precision, meeting the demands of modern geodesy and space science.

All are 13-metre new-generation antennas, form part of the Chinese VLBI Network.