Chinese scientists have, for the first time ever, sent back the X-ray images of a full moon shot from space using the Einstein Probe (EP) satellite on Tuesday, coinciding with the moon-themed traditional Mid-Autumn Festival.
The images were captured by the follow-up X-ray telescope FXT aboard the satellite, showcasing the moon's appearances in X-ray spectrum, which differ from its typical images.
The FXT telescope was developed under the leadership of the the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Compared to other X-ray satellites, the FXT telescope boasts a large imaging field, excellent X-ray energy resolution, and a high effective area.
It can reveal the distribution of elements such as oxygen, iron, magnesium, aluminum and silicon on the lunar surface, holding significant value for conducting lunar-related scientific research.
China sends back X-ray images of full Moon from space for first time
The operational efficiency of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China's Guangdong Province has greatly improved following the launch of a new terminal and a new runway one month ago.
The airport officially put into operation its Terminal 3 and fifth runway on October 30, making it China's first civil airport to operate five commercial runways.
Terminal 3 features a range of self-service facilities, including check-in kiosks, automated baggage drop systems, and smart security screening equipment, which have greatly streamlined passenger processing.
Since its opening, five airlines have shifted their domestic operations to Terminal 3, which now handles an average of 158 flights and about 26,000 passengers daily.
"Compared with Terminal 1, both the number of staffed counters and self-service kiosks of Terminal 3 have increased significantly, greatly reducing the average check-in time for passengers. For domestic direct flights, the entire check-in process can be completed in a minimum of one minute," said Shi Mengyao, a staffer with the ground service department of the Guangdong branch of China Eastern Airlines.
Beyond efficiency improvements, the terminal also includes an observation deck that offers travelers panoramic views of the airfield.
"Since its opening, the observation deck attracts over 3,000 visitors per day on average, with total visits exceeding 100,000 to date," said Luo Li, deputy general manager of a terminal management company at Baiyun International Airport.
The airport's expansion also marks another step toward building a world-class airport cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
"The airport's expansion not only consolidates the Greater Bay Area as an aviation hub connecting China with the world, but also helps lower logistics costs within the area, promote the free flow and efficient allocation of economic resources, and enhances the area's capacity for global resource allocation," said Li Jing, chief planner with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transport.
New terminal, runway boost operational efficiency of airport in Guangzhou
