Square Kilometer Array
The Square Kilometer Array
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA)
Radio astronomy, the properties and potential discoveries
Unit: ASP1010
Abstract
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA), a project currently in progress, will be the largest radio telescope when it is complete. Being the most expensive radio astronomy project in history, the SKA is a joint mission with contributions from twenty countries, and will be constructed across venues in Western Australia and South Africa. The array will be far more powerful and sensitive than any technology available today, allowing us to gather far more data from space than ever before. Data collecting will begin in 2020 and will be used predominantly to study the origin and development of the Universe. However, we may also uncover new properties of space or planetary bodies that many astronomers could never have imagined, as the SKA will be able to detect extremely faint signals that we have not been able to record to date.
Introduction
In order to achieve a greater comprehension of the universe, we need to explore far more than just our local neighborhood in space. The way in which we have done this has developed over time, beginning with observing the sky with our own eyes. Nowadays, we use many different data collecting techniques involving telescopes to explore all different frequencies and wavelengths in space. The Square Kilometer Array will utilize radio astronomy, the study of radio waves, by linking thousands of different telescopes (both dishes and antennas) across sites in both Western Australia and South Africa to construct a giant array. Expected to be approximately fifty times more sensitive than today’s best telescopes, and have a survey speed of nearly a million times any telescope today, the SKA will be able to pick up fainter radio waves and gather information about far deeper in space than any other modern mechanism available.
The SKA will allow us to gather data
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA)
Radio astronomy, the properties and potential discoveries
Unit: ASP1010
Abstract
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA), a project currently in progress, will be the largest radio telescope when it is complete. Being the most expensive radio astronomy project in history, the SKA is a joint mission with contributions from twenty countries, and will be constructed across venues in Western Australia and South Africa. The array will be far more powerful and sensitive than any technology available today, allowing us to gather far more data from space than ever before. Data collecting will begin in 2020 and will be used predominantly to study the origin and development of the Universe. However, we may also uncover new properties of space or planetary bodies that many astronomers could never have imagined, as the SKA will be able to detect extremely faint signals that we have not been able to record to date.
Introduction
In order to achieve a greater comprehension of the universe, we need to explore far more than just our local neighborhood in space. The way in which we have done this has developed over time, beginning with observing the sky with our own eyes. Nowadays, we use many different data collecting techniques involving telescopes to explore all different frequencies and wavelengths in space. The Square Kilometer Array will utilize radio astronomy, the study of radio waves, by linking thousands of different telescopes (both dishes and antennas) across sites in both Western Australia and South Africa to construct a giant array. Expected to be approximately fifty times more sensitive than today’s best telescopes, and have a survey speed of nearly a million times any telescope today, the SKA will be able to pick up fainter radio waves and gather information about far deeper in space than any other modern mechanism available.
The SKA will allow us to gather data
References: SKA Organization (2013) The Square Kilometer Array, www.skatelescope.org, accessed 14/4/2013 TheSkyNet (2012) The Square Kilometer Array, http://www.theskynet.org/resources/ska, accessed 16/4/2013 Osborne, D. (2012), "Outback Observatory Open For Business", Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), 5 October 2012, found online at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-1005/outback-observatory-open-for-business/4298094 SKA Africa (2013) The SKA Project, http://www.ska.ac.za/about/project.php, accessed http://www.ska.ac.za/about/project.php, accessed 18/4/2013 Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act 2007 (Republic of South Africa), viewed 18/4/2013, SKA Organization (2012) THE SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY DESIGN REFERENCE Community Research and Development Information Service (2012) The Projects: SKADS – SKA Design Study, ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/infrastructures/docs/dwingeloo8_skads.pdf Sapa (2013), "SKA searches for alien life", City Press, 19 March 2013, found online at http://www.citypress.co.za/news/ska-searches-for-alien-life/