ANNOUNCEMENTS•
After thirty years of preparation, today the largest radio telescope in the world has been built: order of square kilometers (SCA). International researchers will, among other things Einstein theory About gravity testing and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Michelle Van Haarlem Berkata: NOS Radio 1 magazine. As head of the Dutch SKA office at the Netherlands Institute of Radio Astronomy, he has been involved in the project for 25 years.
what is called the site SKA Observatory Carefully selected. “This is the loneliest place on Earth, far from civilization,” said the astronomer. Together, the two sites have room Over 450,000 square feet.
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SKA / Astron
An artist’s impression of a South African dish -
SKA / Astron
An artist’s impressions of Australia’s antenna
“All human activities, such as cell phones and radios, interfere with our observations. So we try to stay away from it as much as possible. This is the most remote place, and also in the southern hemisphere. We can see part of the Milky Way very well.”
“First Image of the Star”
“Telescopes observe the universe,” explains Van Haarlem. “Everything is out there: stars and galaxies in the deep universe. It does so in radio waves: in a visually invisible light. Our telescope also works at wavelengths like FM radio.
The lowest frequencies, which are the longest waves, and the highest frequencies are received by the dish and antenna. “This basically allows us to monitor all radio emissions.”
The actual construction will start in early 2021:
The first data should be available in 2027. “We had been working at that point for more than thirty years,” says van Haarlem. “It is such a relief that this telescope works so well and produces good results. I hope we can photograph the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early universe. It would be a great result.”
