Overview

Searching for signs of life in the galaxy, identifying supernova outbursts, and finding evidence to support or refute modern physical theories are among the new astronomical observatory of x-rays’ objectives. The Square Kilometer Array Observatory’s (SKAO) construction has begun in its Australian and South African sites.

The science and other stuff to know

“It’s been a 30-year journey. The first 10 years were spent developing concepts and ideas. The second 10 were spent developing technology. And then the last Decade was spent on detailed design, securing the sites, getting governments to agree to set up a treaty organization, and providing the funding to get started,” Phil Diamond, Director General of the SKAO project, told BBC News.

In Western Australia and the African North Cape regions, more than 130,000 antennas and 200 parabolic dishes will be installed, respectively, in the first instance. Then more instruments and antennas will be added to pick up more signals. The works are expected to be completed and operational by 2030. The investment by the countries in the experiment is almost €2 billion, according to GCV.

The 197 satellite dishes will be built over a vast land — around 150km long — in South Africa while the 131,072 Christmas tree-shaped low-frequency dishes will be located in Wajarri Yamaj, Australia, where the furthest antennas will be separated by 65 km (40 miles).

Like the ALMA project, the SKAO antennas will work as part of a single radio telescope covering an expansive land area. But in contrast with the Atacama observatory, SKAO will have three extensions spread across the planet. In this way, the entire planet becomes a giant radio telescope. This technique has been implemented before with the Event Horizon Telescope, which managed to take an image of a distant black hole using the entire planet as a telescope.

The cost of the SKA, including construction and operations until 2030, is estimated at around €1.9 billion. The works will begin to be executed in January, after the holidays.

So what?

The objective is to observe the trace of hydrogen in the cosmos and trace this element back to its beginnings, going back to the Big Bang.

Other phenomena will seek to be explained using the observational data from this colossal telescope: “One would be these ‘fast radio bursts that have been detected. These things emit the equivalent of the energy of an entire year of our Sun in just one split second. And we have no idea what they are. How so? The SKA may have an answer.”

“SKA will contribute to many areas of astronomy,” said Dr. Shari Breen, the observatory’s Director of Science Operations.

What’s next?

It is expected that by 2024 there will already be 4 satellites in operation in Australia and 6 in South Africa. By 2028, if all goes well, the project should have an extension of at least half a million square km, although those involved understand that a work of these features implies a massive investment. For the same reason, they invite all interested countries to collaborate. The project’s current participators are South Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland.