Biggest radio telescope in the world's to have its base in UK

It’s official! The Biggest radio telescope in the world's will have its base at Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester, UK.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a 1.5-billion-euros multinational science project, will be capable of answering some of the most fundamental questions about the Universe.

The SKA will be an array of radio antennas with a collection area of a sq km with its core in South Africa or Australia.

Signals from individual antennas will be combined to form one giant telescope.

“The move to Jodrell bank comes at a crucial time as the project grows from a concept to an international megascience project. The new location and facilities will support the significant expansion that is planned,” said Prof Richard Schilizzi, director of the SKA.

“The Square Kilometre Array is a project of global significance. This is evidence of the high reputation of Britain’s management of international science projects. It is great news for Britain and for Jodrell Bank and Manchester University in particular,” said Britain Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts.

“It is great to see such significant progress being made towards building the SKA, one of our highest priorities in astronomy. The universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Manchester have a great heritage in astronomy and they are working together in SKA to ensure the U.K. takes a leading role in this exciting global project to better understand the universe we live in,” said Prof John Womersley, chair of the SKA Founding Board.
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