The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the most sensitive telescope ever built.
Who
The SKA project is a collaboration between institutions from 19 countries.
Where
The SKA needs to be built some place in the southern hemisphere with a large, open space, and little interference from mobile phones, television and radio transmitters, and electrical devices. After looking at various possible sites, the SKA project team has narrowed it down to two: Australia/New Zealand or Southern Africa. The final decision is expected in 2012. Wherever it ends up, the SKA will be used by astronomers from all over the world, and you could be one of them.
How
To handle all the information it’ll get, the SKA is going to need better computers than exist right now. There’s a lot of research we need to do before we can build it.
What
The SKA will be a radio telescope array. Instead of seeing space with a big lens, it will use thousands of dishes, plus some other sensors.
When
Construction on the SKA should start in 2016 and won’t be finished until at least 2020. But there’s lots going on in the meantime!
Right now, various countries are working on small versions of the telescope to test out technologies. Australia’s version is called ASKAP.
Why
We have a pretty good understanding of our place in the Universe. Now we want to know more about the Universe itself.
