The Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO) is a radio telescope that was born from an intergovernmental collaboration that will run on three different continents. The plan, this radio telescope will be placed in the region of South Africa and Australia, with England as the location of its headquarters.
The construction of the SKA Observatory has just been carried out in December 2022. When construction is completed in 2027, it is rumored that it will become the largest telescope in the world. What is a radio telescope and what can be studied through the SKA Observatory? Come on, see some of the facts below!
1. SKA Observatory is a radio telescope
radio telescope illustration (skao.canto.global)
There are two kinds of telescopes used by astronomers to study the universe, namely optical and radio. Unlike an optical telescope, which functions to capture visible light through a lens, a radio telescope functions to capture radio signals emitted by the universe. The data in the form of radio signals will be collected by the SKA Observatory.
A radio telescope consists of an antenna and a receiving signal, usually in the form of a large dish, or a group of small dishes called parabolas array. Radio telescopes are used to study stars, galaxies, black holes and other astronomical objects. In addition to receiving, radio telescopes can also be used to transmit signals into space.
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2. SKA Observatory will be built on two continents
Illustration of SKA-Low Array (skao.int)
As the name implies, the Square Kilometer Array Observatory is a radio telescope that will be built from a set of parabolas (array). Currently, the SKA Observatory has begun to be built in South Africa and Australia. These two locations were chosen because they were far from the crowds, considering that radio telescopes require an area with minimal interference from electronic devices that we usually use every day.
SKA Observatory will be divided into two parts according to the region. SKA-Mid, located in South Africa, will have 197 satellite dishes dedicated to observing radio frequencies in the 350 MHz to 15.4 GHz range. Meanwhile, 131,072 satellite dishes will be built for SKA-Low located in Australia.
3. The SKA Observatory operates using synthetic imaging techniques
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illustration SKA-Mid (skao.canto.global)
Synthesis imaging or aperture synthesis is a technique that allows a collection of small parabolas scattered in various regions to be connected to each other. Then, they are combined by a supercomputer to produce a complete data. The synthetic imaging used for the SKA Observatory allows astronomers to obtain higher resolution and detail from radio signals.
The SKA Observatory was originally a collection of small parabolas divided into the SKA-Mid and SKA-Low groups to act like a large radio telescope using synthetic imaging techniques. This method is more effective than placing one large parabola, because at certain times astronomers can also use SKA-Mid and SKA-Low for different purposes.
4. SKA Observatory is planned to be completed in 2027
Illustration of SKA-Low Array (skao.int)
The construction of the Square Kilometer Array Observatory has gone through the planning and preparation phases since 3 decades ago. The world’s largest radio telescope, which will spend approximately 1.4 billion dollars (equivalent to around Rp. 21.2 trillion), officially starts on December 5, 2022, as reported by the official website SKA Observatory.
Reported SpaceSKA Observatory is divided into several phases starting from Array Assembly 0.5 to Array Assembly 4. The construction of this radio telescope is planned to be completed in the Array Assembly 4 phase after placing 256 SKA-Low satellite dishes and the last 133 SKA-Mid satellite dishes, at the end of 2027. If construction goes according to plan, the SKA Observatory will start operating in 2028.
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