Elections in the shadow of austerity
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:30:48 -0700

It has also just been chosen as headquarters for the 1.3bn Square Kilometre Array, a global project to join 3000 radio telescopes in a network with 50 times the sensitivity of any instrument available today. A 3.5m discovery centre is due to open ...

As big as a continent
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 18:45:37 -0700

The vast array is needed because the wavelength of radio waves is far greater than that of visible light. An optical telescope can be 10 million wavelengths in diameter. Scale that up to the centimetre wavelengths of radio astronomy and you have a ...

If aliens come to visit, they'll probably be much cleverer than us
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:14:56 -0700

In 1974 scientists from Cornell University broadcast the first deliberate message, using the giant radio telescope in Arecibo. The message contained some crude details in mathematical code about who we are, what we look like and what we are made from. ...

Support for Karoo anti-fracking group
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 02:15:47 -0700

Part of the Karoo is designated a radio astronomy reserve which will host the Meer KAT (Karoo Array Telescope) and later the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) which will consist of several linked radio telescopes . The Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act of ...

German instrument GREAT begins its scientific observations on board SOFIA
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:00:02 -0700

The GREAT instrument was developed by a team from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIf R) and the University of Cologne, led by Rolf G sten, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and the DLR Institute of ...

Big Astronomy
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 03:44:15 -0700

In radio astronomy , as in particle physics, bigger kit is better a larger telescope can gather fainter signals and produce sharper images. Jodrell's Lovell Telescope, with its 76m dish diameter, was the biggest steerable telescope in the world when it ...

New telescope to view panorama of the universe
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:48:49 -0700

It takes single- or duel-pixel receivers in current radio telescope dish antennas a long time to map extended regions of space, said Gough, comparing the technology to a camera with just one pixel . Plus, objects like comets, molecular clouds and ...

Group sets plans for largest radio telescope ever
Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:20:04 -0700

(Phys Org.com) -- Proving that a lot of little things can go a long way, a group of astronomers have revealed plans to build and install a radio telescope array out of thousands of small inexpensive dishes, spread out over thousands of miles of remote ...

Agilent Technologies Announces The Industry's Highest
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:15:49 -0700

Extending this performance to 325 GHz and beyond allows customers to develop technology for advanced radio astronomy research and new imaging techniques used in the medical and air travel industries. "As frequencies move into the millimeter range, ...

Megascience! Plans Unveiled for World's Biggest Telescope
Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:13:07 -0700

Plans were unveiled Sunday for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), a $2.1 billion array of telescopes that will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world -- and may help understand such fundamental cosmic mysteries as dark energy and ...

Miners continue SKA radio zone debate
Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:38:14 -0700

Australia is competing with South Africa as a potential site for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a massive radio telescope project which will look at the furthest regions of space, one of the largest science projects currently being contemplated ...

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute invites the public to view Saturn on ...
Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:59:16 -0700

The evening's activities will include a tour of the PARI campus and celestial observations using PARI's optical or radio telescopes . The program is part of PARI's monthly Evening at PARI series and will feature a presentation by Christi Whitworth, ...

Shell's oil exploration plans in Karoo could affect South Africa's radio ...
Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:45:14 -0700

The department will ensure Shell does not violate its rights to regulate the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope operating zone where Shell intends drilling. Shell's plans to prospect for oil and gas in the Karoo were starting to raise questions ...

NSF Will Transfer Prototype Radio Antenna To Cf A
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:24:17 -0700

by Staff Writers The Harvard-Smithso nian Center for Astrophysics (Cf A) has been selected by the National Science Foundation as recipient of a 12-meter (39-foot) radio antenna designed for submillimeter-w avelength astronomy . The ALMA Vertex Prototype ...

'SA has edge on Australia for 1.5bn telescope '
Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:40:28 -0700

Technical and infrastructure developments are giving SA the edge over rival Australia in the 1.5 billion - about R14.6 billion- bid to host the world's largest radio telescope , according to officials at the Department of Science and Technology. ...

Telescope project will 'revolution ize view of universe'
Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:58:50 -0700

Scientists are meeting in Rome to decide which country should host the headquarters for the biggest radio telescope ever built. The Square Kilometre Array is astronomy's answer to the Large Hadron Collider, a multi-billion euro project that aims to ...

Looking back in time with Meer KAT
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:39:29 -0700

It will consist of 64 linked radio telescopes near Carnarvon in the Northern Cape province. Currently, seven telescopes have been built as engineers refine the design and technology to drive the industrial roll-out of the instrument. ...

Meer KAT engineers SA innovation
Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:36:29 -0700

The Meer KAT radio astronomy project has illustrated the engineering prowess of local companies in delivering world class hardware. On Saturday millions of people all over the world will switch off their lights in support of Earth Hour. Will you? ...

Africa bids to host most powerful radio telescope on Earth
Sat, 12 Mar 2011 02:36:28 -0800

South Africa is leading the bid to host the most powerful radio telescope in the world which would have an antenna station erected in Zambia. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), when constructed, in 2025, will have 50 times greater sensitivity than any ...

SA business faces climate threat
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:13:19 -0700

The Meer KAT radio astronomy project has illustrated the engineering prowess of local companies in delivering world class hardware. Professor Deon Nel has warned that climate change poses risks to companies. (Duncan Alfreds, News24) Read more about the ...