South African super-telescope reveals distant galaxies and black holes

[OrbitalDawn]

At only a quarter of its eventual capacity, the MeerKat radio telescope captures 1,300 galaxies in tiny corner of universe where only 70 were known before

Even operating at a quarter of its eventual capacity, South Africa’s MeerKat radio telescope showed off its phenomenal power on Saturday, revealing 1,300 galaxies in a tiny corner of the universe where only 70 were known before.

The image released on Saturday was the first from MeerKat where 16 dishes were formally commissioned the same day.

MeerKat’s full contingent of 64 receptors will be integrated next year into a multi-nation square kilometre array (SKA) which is is set to become the world’s most powerful radio telescope.

The images produced by MeerKat “are far better than we could have expected”, the chief scientist of the SKA in South Africa, Fernando Camilo, said at the site of the dishes near the small town of Carnarvon, 600 kilometres north of Cape Town.

This “means that this telescope, as is today only one quarter of the way down (to its full contingent), is already the best radio telescope in the southern hemisphere,” Camilo told AFP.

 

[Arthur]

Brilliant! Super exciting project. Hope to visit there later this year.

 

[koeksGHT]

Brilliant! Super exciting project. Hope to visit there later this year.

They tour?

 

[Arthur]

No public tours yet, as far as I know.

 

[koeksGHT]

No public tours yet, as far as I know.

Doubt it, surely cellphones/extra emissions would affect it?

 

[koeksGHT]

No public tours yet, as far as I know.

Doubt it, surely cellphones/extra emissions would affect it?

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

No public tours yet, as far as I know.

I stopped by Sutherland in the early '80s without an appointment and was met with great hospitality.

 

[genetic]

I stopped by Sutherland in the early '80s without an appointment and was met with great hospitality.

The MeerKAT project only started in 2007, and is not open to the public. Also, it is not in Sutherland.

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

The MeerKAT project only started in 2007, and is not open to the public. Also, it is not in Sutherland.

I know that.

Just saying. The astronomers stuck out at Sutherland were happy to have a little outside company.
It was a bit like they hadn't seen a stranger for years.

 

[Nanfeishen]

I know that.

Just saying. The astronomers stuck out at Sutherland were happy to have a little outside company.
It was a bit like they hadn't seen a stranger for years.

Sorry, just reminded me of this

As you can imagine, they... they don't let us out much.

 

[Cray]

Very cool this..

 

[Arthur]

Doubt it, surely cellphones/extra emissions would affect it?

Visited the MeerKAT site end of last week. Since First Light the Radio Silence signs are now up asking for cellphones to be switched off.

There's also a massive new earthwall for RF shielding between the main workshop a few km beyond the first array site.