GUIYANG, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) has identified more than 1,300 pulsars over the past decade, outnumbering the total pulsar discoveries made by all other international telescopes over the same period, according to an academic conference that opened on Wednesday.

FAST marks its 10th anniversary on Friday. It has driven a historic leap for China's radio astronomy over the past decade. Boasting enhanced observational capabilities, the telescope, located in southwest China's Guizhou Province, has continuously expanded humanity's understanding of the universe.

As one of the world's most vital astronomical observation facilities, FAST has achieved a series of internationally influential findings in key research fields covering pulsars, neutral hydrogen galaxies, fast radio bursts and gravitational waves.

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 22, 2026 shows a view of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

This long-time exposure photo taken on Sept. 22, 2026 shows a view of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

A panoramic drone photo taken on Sept. 22, 2026 shows a view of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance at sunset in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

This photo taken on Feb. 26, 2024 with physical filter shows a night view of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

This long-time exposure aerial photo taken on July 24, 2022 shows a drone performance over China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Staff members check reflector panels of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

A staff member works at the control room of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province, March 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Staff members work in the feed cabin of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

A staff member checks China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Staff members install the feed cabin of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 10, 2016. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 10, 2016 shows staff members installing the feed cabin of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province.  (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

A panoramic drone photo taken on Sept. 25 2024 shows a view of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) under maintenance in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)