The FMT was constructed in 1992 to investigate the long-term variation of solar activity and explosive events. It has been part of the international coordinated observations program (STEP) since 1991. In March 2010, it was moved from Hida to Ica University in Peru as part of CHAIN-project. The FMT consists of 6 small telescopes, five of which observe the sun at different wavelengths or in different modes. The remaining one is equipped with a guider for accurate tracking of the sun.

FMT observations of the sun at different wavelengths or in different modes enables us to study how solar activity affects human activities in space or on The Earth. Such studies enable improved radio communication operations, electronic transmissions on The Earth, and experiments in space.

The images were obtained every two seconds and recorded with time-lapsed video tapes from 1992 to May 2006. From September 1996 to May 2006, we had also been using a digital data recording system with the A/D converter. Digital images from this system were recorded every minute. Moreover, in May 2006, we introduced the new digital CCD camera system, so that pixel resolutions and digital bit depths were improved and the exposure-time was reduced. Normally, this new system has obtained one series of digital images every 20 seconds.