India has joined the world’s largest radio telescope project called the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). India will be contributing Rs 1,250 crore to this multinational initiative which includes over 16 nations. The project aims to build the world’s largest radio telescope spanning over a square kilometer that will help in mapping out and studying all visible galaxies to the edge of the universe in detail which never has been done. Read further to know what is SKAO and all the relevant details about it.
What is the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)?
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is not one telescope, but a network of thousands of radio antennas spread across vast distances in Australia and South Africa. When complete, it will be the largest and most powerful radio telescope on Earth.
The SKA telescopes will be built in two phases in both places. The first phase of the construction of SKA1 began in December 2022. The SKA telescopes are expected to begin operations by 2029.
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Which are the 16 nations involved in the SKAO project?
The SKAO project will be developed by 16 nations - India, Australia, South Africa, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy. The development of the SKAO telescope will mainly take place in Australia and South Africa.
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What is the significance of SKAO? What are its objectives?
The SKA telescopes will offer insights and transform our understanding of the Universe. It will be 50 times more sensitive than any other radio instrument. It is expected to study the galaxies and the universe faster than before. The SKA telescopes will help astronomers learn how the earliest galaxies formed and evolved over billions of years. The telescopes will analyze the dark matter holding the galaxies together.
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