Captured using an early configuration of just 1,024 antennas out of a planned 131,072, this image offers a compelling preview of the discoveries that lie ahead for what is set to become the world's most advanced radio observatory. SKA-Low, situated in Australia, is one of two cutting-edge telescopes being developed by the SKA Observatory (SKAO), with its counterpart, SKA-Mid, under construction in South Africa.
Covering a sky area of roughly 25 square degrees - equivalent to the size of 100 full Moons - the image reveals approximately 85 well-known galaxies, each harboring supermassive black holes. When fully operational, SKA-Low is expected to uncover over 600,000 galaxies in this same region, owing to its vastly enhanced sensitivity.
This first image was generated using data from the initial four SKA-Low stations, each composed of metal antennas standing two meters tall. Installed over the past year at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory on Wajarri Yamaji Country, these stations represent less than one percent of the telescope's eventual capacity.
Dr George Heald, SKA-Low Lead Commissioning Scientist, expressed enthusiasm for the initial results. "The quality of this image was even beyond what we hoped for using such an early version of the telescope," Dr Heald said. "The bright galaxies we can see in this image are just the tip of iceberg. With the full telescope we will have the sensitivity to reveal the faintest and most distant galaxies, back to the early Universe when the first stars and galaxies started to form. This is technically difficult work and the first step to unlocking the awesome science that will be possible."
Dr Sarah Pearce, Director of the SKA-Low Telescope, praised the collaborative achievement. "This is the culmination of effort from many talented and committed people across teams, organisations and continents," Dr Pearce said. "Getting to this point has taken engineers, astronomers and computer scientists from all over the world, working for decades. It's amazing to see all this work come together to give our first glimpse of the brilliant images that will come from SKA-Low, promising us a view of the Universe we've never seen before."
Operating as a unified system, both SKA-Low in Western Australia and SKA-Mid in South Africa consist of vast arrays of antennas that work together to collect data over immense distances, simulating the functionality of a single, massive telescope.
Prof. Philip Diamond, Director-General of SKAO, emphasized the significance of this milestone. "With this image we see the promise of the SKA Observatory as it opens its eyes to the Universe," Prof. Diamond said. "This first image is a critical step for the Observatory, and for the astronomy community; we are demonstrating that the system as a whole is working. As the telescopes grow, and more stations and dishes come online, we'll see the images improve in leaps and bounds and start to realise the full power of the SKAO."
The SKA projects are advancing in phases, drawing on components provided by SKAO member nations around the globe. SKA-Low is being developed in conjunction with Australia's national science body, CSIRO, and is on track to become the largest low-frequency radio telescope in existence within the next two years, even before full completion.
Support for the observatory site has been provided by both the Australian federal and Western Australian state governments. The SKAO acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Wajarri Yamaji, where the data was gathered at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.
Related Links
SKA Observatory
Understanding Time and Space
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
| Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters |
