MeerKAT: the South African radio telescope that’s transformed our understanding of the cosmos
South Africa’s Karoo region is a vast semi-arid area that stretches across four of the country’s provinces. It is sparsely populated and renowned for its wide open spaces.
In the heart of this landscape, near the small Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory operates a technological marvel that has transformed our understanding of the cosmos. The MeerKAT radio telescope has unlocked cosmic mysteries. It’s fostered scientific collaboration. It is also nurturing local talent.
MeerKAT, which is among South Africa’s largest scientific infrastructure projects of the 30 year period since democracy, has emerged as a beacon of innovation and opportunity on the African continent. It comprises 64 dishes, each 13.5 metres in diameter, and is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. When it’s fully up and running – currently estimated to be in 2028 or 2029 – the SKA will be the world’s most powerful radio telescope.
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