China ? An ultraviolet observatory Russia, China and other countries are building to explore the far reaches of space will begin operating by the end of the decade, Russia’s top space official said today.

The project will involve putting into orbit a satellite fitted with a telescope to study the ultraviolet radiation of as yet invisible celestial bodies in our galaxy’s far-flung corners. Ground facilities will monitor the bodies and process data transmitted by the satellite.

Building a lunar spacecraft is another collaborative space project being pursued by Russia and China, said Russian Space Agency President Anatoly Perminov, who is on a visit to China.