AsianFin -- China has reached a significant milestone in its astronomical research efforts with the launch of the Jiao Tong University Spectroscopic Telescope (JUST) project. Construction officially commenced on Sunday for the 4.4-meter telescope at the Lenghu Astronomical Observation Base in Qinghai Province, located in the northwest of the country.

Once completed, the telescope will become China's first large-scale, domestically developed spectroscopic telescope, representing a substantial advancement in the nation's capabilities for independent space observation.

The JUST telescope will bolster China’s ability to explore galaxy clusters, transient cosmic phenomena, and exoplanets, further cementing the country's position in global astronomical research, according to a report by thepaper.cn.

The telescope is designed with three primary scientific goals. First, it will use its high-density fiber spectroscopic features to survey densely populated regions of the universe, such as galaxy clusters, significantly advancing research in cluster cosmology.

Second, its rapid-response capabilities will allow for timely follow-up observations of transient phenomena, like supernovae, which are challenging to study due to their brief existence. Finally, the telescope will focus on detecting exoplanets by observing multiple bright stars using high-resolution spectrometers.