Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

Artist's impression of the SKA

The Square Kilometre Array
Australia and Southern Africa have been short listed as possible hosts of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) - the international radio telescope for the 21st Century.  The final decision is expected to be announced in 2012.

The SKA will be a revolutionary, next-generation radio telescope, capable of transformational science and will address fundamental questions in physics and cosmology.

This telescope will digitally combine signals from several thousand 12m diameter antennas with a collecting area of around one million square metres and will also provide the sharpest pictures of the sky of any telescope.

The SKA’s key science areas include:

• Evolution of galaxies, cosmology, dark matter and energy
• The Cradle of Life – searching for life and planets
• Extreme tests of general relativity with pulsars and black holes
• Probing the Dark Ages (before light) – the first black holes and stars
• The origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism
• Exploration of the unknown

To meet some of the key requirements the Australian and Western Australian Governments are establishing a world-leading radio-astronomy core observing site in the Mid West Region of Western Australia - the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). 

This region is characterised by exceptional radio-quietness, low population density and favourable observing conditions.  The pristine condition of the site is being preserved by the exclusion of mining activities and creation of a 260km radius Mid-West Radio Quiet Zone to limit incompatible radio frequency emissions.

The Australian SKA Pathfinder telescope
As a precursor to the full SKA an Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope is proposed to be built by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) with enabling technologies being built in partnership with institutions in Canada, the Netherlands and South Africa.

ASKAP will be the world’s most powerful survey instrument until the SKA is in operation.

The main Pathfinder will be built at the same location as the proposed core site for the SKA. It will consist of up to 45 dishes, working together as a single telescope. The dishes will use innovative radio-wave receivers that will give an unparalleled view of the sky.

Construction is planned to commence in 2009 and the ASKAP is expected to gather more information in its first six hours of operation than has been saved by the world’s radio telescopes in the last 50 years.

View our movie on the Square Kilometre Array (mpeg 28Mb) for more information about this exciting project.

The Australian SKA Industry Capability Directory

The Australian SKA Industry Capability Directory showcases a wide range of Australian companies and organisations with the expertise and excellence required to support the development and construction of ASKAP and in time, the SKA.

For more information go to http://www.skacapabilities.com.au/

Astronomy Research Centre in Western Australia
Western Australia’s Premier Alan Carpenter recently highlighted the State’s commitment to securing the SKA by announcing funding of A$20million to establish an International Radio Astronomy Research Centre in Western Australia which will go towards:

• the employment of up to 100 scientists and technicians to undertake radio astronomy research and development;
• purchasing and developing new software and technologies;
• developing radio astronomy-related industry capability in WA through employing scientists and engineers to work with local industry to design, develop and manufacture engineering solutions for SKA;
• undertaking public outreach and education programs; and
• creating domestic and international linkages and partnerships on SKA.

At the same time the Premier announced that A$2.3 million would be provided to fund a Radio Astronomy and Engineering Centre of Excellence.

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