Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 25

Spread across two continents,
the SKA will be the largest
astronomical facility ever built.

CREDIT.RIG H T X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

tre

It's a spectacular sunset,
with hues ranging from subtle pink and pearl to flaming
orange and gold. Venus shines high in the west; Earth's
shadow creeps up in the east. Low, thorny vegetation makes it
hard to wander around. And dangerous, too - there are scorpions here. I'm in the Great Karoo, a vast semi-arid region,
some five hundred kilometers northeast of Cape Town. It's
incredibly quiet. Hardly anyone lives here; the nearest small
town, Carnarvon, is roughly a hundred kilometers away.
Still, there's ample sign of human activity. Silhouetted
against the colorful clouds are the dishes of the South African MeerKAT radio telescope array, which is still very much
under construction during my visit in late November 2016.
"By the end of 2017, all 64 MeerKAT antennas will hopefully
be in place," says my host Angus Flowers, the project's media
liaison, as he drives us back to the Losberg Lodge, a former
farmstead close to the observatory's central area now operated by radio astronomers.
A few kilometers away from the budding MeerKAT
is a broken ring of low mountains that help to keep out
unwanted radio interference from distant farms and towns.
Later that night, when we are outside under the stars, enjoying our braai dinner (the popular South African version of
barbecue), I imagine what the site may look like some 15
years from now. If you could fly up, high above the flattopped mesas, you'd be looking down at the largest collection of radio dishes ever built: the South African part of the
Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Consisting of 2,000 antennas,
it will spread out over much of the Karoo, way beyond the
horizon, and even into other African countries.
And that's only part of the story. While the African array
(called SKA-mid) will focus on mid-frequency radio waves,
its Australian counterpart (SKA-low), made up of more than
a million simple antennas, will study the low-frequency radio
universe. So far, only the first phase of the ambitious, twocontinent project (SKA1) has been funded. SKA1, cost-capped
at 650 million euros (nearly $700 million U.S.), will consist
of 200 dishes in South Africa and many tens of thousands
of antennas in Australia. The hope is to complete the second
phase (SKA2) in 2030, with a whopping tenfold increase in
observing power.
The SKA is an unprecedented multi-phase, multi-wavelength, multi-continent endeavor. "It never ceases to impress
me," says Flowers.

Aperture Synthesis

SUNSET OVER THE KAROO MeerKAT dishes stand sentinel at
dusk in South Africa's growing radio observatory.

Radio astronomy is a young discipline. After Karl Jansky's
1933 discovery of radio waves from the Milky Way, it took
until the late 1950s before giant dishes were erected, like
the venerable 76-meter Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank
Observatory in northern England. But only with the advent
of the techniques called radio interferometry and aperture

GOV E RT SCH I LLI N G

s k y a n d t e l e s c o p e .c o m

* JUNE 2017

25


http://www.skyandtelescope.com

Sky and Telescope - June 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - June 2017

Contents
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 1
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 3
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 4
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 5
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 6
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 7
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 8
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 9
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 10
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 11
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 12
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 13
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 14
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 15
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 16
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 17
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 18
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 19
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 20
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 21
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 22
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 23
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 24
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 25
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 26
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 27
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 28
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 29
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 30
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 31
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 32
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 33
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 34
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 35
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 36
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 37
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 38
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 39
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 40
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 41
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 42
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 43
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 44
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 45
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 46
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 47
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 48
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 49
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 50
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 51
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 52
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 53
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 54
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 55
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 56
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 57
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 58
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 59
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 60
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 61
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 62
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 63
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 64
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 65
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 66
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 67
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 68
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 69
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 70
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 71
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 72
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 73
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 74
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 75
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 76
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 77
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 78
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 79
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 80
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 81
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 82
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 83
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - 84
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - Cover3
Sky and Telescope - June 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com