When completed later this year, FAST will be the largest single-aperture radio telescope in the world, with a diameter of over 1600 feet. For comparison, the current largest -- the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico -- measures 1000 feet across. FAST's dish will be comprised of 4,500 triangular panels, which when combined with an active adjustable reflector, will enable scientists to observe a larger area of space in greater fidelity than any telescope before it.

The Big Picture is a recurring feature highlighting beautiful images that tell big stories. We explore topics as large as our planet, or as small as a single life, as affected by or seen through the lens of technology.