South Africa Launches World’s Largest Radio Telescope, the MeerKAT, in the Karoo
Today – Friday 13 July 2018 – is a big day for Africa as South Africa celebrates a significant milestone in radio astronomy… with the launch of the 64-dish MeerKAT array in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape. The MeerKAT will be the world’s largest radio telescope of its kind until the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) […]
Today – Friday 13 July 2018 – is a big day for Africa as South Africa celebrates a significant milestone in radio astronomy… with the launch of the 64-dish MeerKAT array in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.
The MeerKAT will be the world’s largest radio telescope of its kind until the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has been completed, and will be integrated into Phase 1 of the mid-frequency component of the SKA.
Once finished, the SKA will be 50 to 100 times more sensitive than any other radio telescope on Earth… and is expected to produce science that changes our understanding of the universe!
According to a statement on the South African government website, “the SKA is expected to address fundamental questions about our universe, including how the first stars and galaxies were formed.”
It is being built by an international consortium, including Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and will be co-hosted in Africa and Australia.
In Africa the SKA will be built in South Africa and eight other African Countries.
Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Nguban, is launching the 64-dish MeerKAT in the Northern Cape this morning. Several senior politicians – including Derek Hanekom and Naledi Pandor – and scientists will be at the SKA’s Losberg site in the Karoo today to witness this historical event, which has been in the making for a decade.
Vanessa McBride from the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development told The Conversation this is a momentous occasion because although Africa has many challenges more “pressing” than exploring the universe, astronomy “has a unique ability to stimulate thoughts of “what is possible” in the minds of marginalised communities, women and children.
“Astronomy connects philosophical, cultural and inspirational elements with the cutting edge of science and technology.” She says it fosters socioeconomic development and has been used in Sierra Leone, for instance, to improve literacy… because the learners “loved what they were learning”.
WATCH VIDEO: South Africa’s Meerkat Telescope Cluster Time-Lapse
https://www.facebook.com/SKASOUTHAFRICA/videos/878004795733757/