SKA to change skills landscape

SKA to change skills landscape

More than two-thirds of South Africans live in urban areas and more make the move from rural areas daily. This means South African cities must become flexible and responsive to citizen needs, while making the most of public resources. Through the intelligent...
The next phase for the SKA

The next phase for the SKA

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world’s largest radio telescope, is to move forward to its final pre-construction phase. The design of the €650-million first phase of the SKA (SKA1) is now defined, consisting of two complementary world class instruments one in Australia, one in South Africa, both expecting to deliver exciting and transformational science. Presently in its design phase, the international project, currently consisting of 11 nations, has been engaged over the last 20 months in a rigorous and extremely challenging, science-driven engineering process with teams from around the world working to refine the design of SKA1.

Affordable broadband for Karoo users

Karoo farmers in the area of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be able to access affordable broadband that won’t interfere with the sensitive radio telescopes used by both the existing MeerKAT and upcoming SKA projects. Because the radio telescopes are sensitive...
Radio telescope sees big bang rays

Radio telescope sees big bang rays

Highly detailed radio telescope images have pinpointed the locations where a stellar explosion called a classical nova emitted gamma rays, the highest-energy form of electromagnetic waves. The discovery revealed a probable mechanism for the gamma-ray emissions, which...

Optical fibre network the backbone of SKA

Kathy Gibson reports from SATNAC 2014 – While many different sciences are central to the success of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the network carrying data around the globe is vital. “Optical fibre very much forms the backbone of the network,” says Professor Tim...