Square Kilometre Array

Square Kilometre Array

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a multi-use telescope currently built in Australia and South Africa. It is said to be able to survey the sky ten thousand times faster than a normal telescope. “Square Kilometre Array (SKA) facility is to be constructed in two phases and currently scheduled for completion in 2024. When finished, it will use around 3,000 dish antennas as well as aperture arrays made up of a large number of dipole antennas. The project is estimated to cost about 1.5 billion Euros” (The Hindu).

It is scheduled to open in 2018. The SKA will be used to answer fundamental questions of science and about the laws of nature. Costing US$900 million, this is one of the largest scientific endeavours in history, bringing together some of the world’s finest scientists, engineers and policy makers.

(An artist's impression of the Square Kilometer Array - Photo credits: SKA Germany)