xiv. Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO)
India will be providing Rs 1,250 crore to the multinational Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, whose telescope arrays or groups of telescopes will be built in Australia and South Africa.
The SKA will be built in two phases in both places, with the first phase of construction of SKA1 having begun in December 2022. It is expected to begin operations by 2029.
SKA will be a group of radio telescopes operating out of South Africa and Australia in two different ranges of radio frequency. Its headquarters are at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK.
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Square Kilometre Array Observatory Project |
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) was founded in 2019 and has 16 consortium members: Australia, South Africa, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy. The SKA Observatory aims to build the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope, combining cutting-edge technology with a vast collecting area to address a wide range of scientific questions in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology.
The SKA Observatory will be distributed across two sites: one in South Africa and the other in Australia.
The construction of the SKA is planned to be carried out in phases. The first phase, SKA1, will focus on building the core elements of the telescope. Subsequent phases will expand the capabilities and geographical reach of the observatory.
Scale and Sensitivity: The SKA’s collecting area will be one square kilometer, providing unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. This vast collecting area is essential for detecting faint astronomical signals and conducting surveys of the sky. Frequency Range: The SKA will operate over a broad frequency range, covering the radio wave spectrum from 70 MHz to 25 GHz. This wide frequency coverage will enable scientists to explore various astrophysical phenomena. |
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Scientific Objectives |
The SKA Observatory aims to address fundamental questions in astrophysics, cosmology, and astrobiology. These include the nature of dark matter and dark energy, the origins of cosmic magnetism, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).
The SKA project drives technological innovation in several areas, including high-performance computing, signal processing, and data management. The sheer volume of data generated by the telescope requires advanced computational capabilities and storage solutions. |
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India and SKAO |
India’s involvement in the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) project holds significant scientific, technological, and strategic importance. As one of the member countries contributing to the development and construction of the SKAO, India stands to benefit in various ways.
India can play a role in shaping the scientific goals and priorities of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, contributing to research areas such as cosmology, astrophysics, and the study of celestial objects.
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Conclusion |
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