Imagine peering into the Sun's secret heart from 4,700 meters above sea level: that's the promise of China's newest solar telescope under construction in Daocheng County, Sichuan Province on the Chinese mainland. Groundwork began this Tuesday on the supporting facilities for the Wide-field and High-resolution Solar Telescope, or WeHoST, poised to become the world's highest solar observatory.
A national research instrumentation initiative led by Nanjing University, WeHoST brings together expertise from the Nanjing Institute of Astronomical Optics and Technology and the Yunnan Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Official construction kicked off in 2022, aiming to host the largest axisymmetric solar telescope with a 2.5-meter primary mirror.
At 4,700 meters in the Tibetan Plateau foothills, the Daocheng site boasts some of the most stable atmospheric conditions on the planet. Thin air and minimal cloud cover promise sharper, clearer solar images—an essential advantage for tracking dynamic solar phenomena.
WeHoST’s design blends a wide field of view with fine spatial resolution, enabling simultaneous multi-band imaging and magnetic field mapping. These capabilities are key to unraveling the origin and energy-release mechanisms behind solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Better understanding of these explosive events isn’t just academic: powerful solar storms can disrupt satellites, GPS networks, and power grids on Earth. By delivering high-quality observational data, WeHoST could improve space weather models and inform strategies to protect critical infrastructure.
Supporting infrastructure and telescope assembly are slated for completion by the end of 2026, followed by an intensive phase of system commissioning and testing. Scientists around the world are already anticipating first light, hoping WeHoST will spark breakthroughs in astrophysics.
As construction progresses, young researchers and enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting new window on our nearest star, one that promises to reshape our understanding of how solar activity influences life on Earth—and beyond.
Reference(s):
China makes progress in building world's highest solar observatory
cgtn.com
