UPSC Articles
Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) Project
Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III – Sci & Tech
In news
- A global collaboration for the world’s largest radio telescope took formal shape with the constitution of an Intergovernmental Council recently.
Key takeaways
- The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) project spans two continents and involves the participation of 20 countries.
- The SKA is not a single telescope but will be an array of antennas strategically designed and set up in South Africa and Australia.
- It is expected to be ready for carrying out observations towards the end of this decade.
- Goals: Studying the universe and its evolution, the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism, and dark energy and evolution of galaxies.
- It is proposed to be built in two phases, with an estimated 1.8 billion euros required for phase-I, planned over the next ten years.
Do you know?
- Headquarter: United Kingdom
- The telescope in South Africa will have 197 dishes and will be located in the Karoo region.
- The telescope in Australia will have 1,31,072 antennas, and will be installed on the campus of the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.
- India is also participating in SKAO through the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
