EC3 Evening Lecture: The SKAO Observatory: how to deliver transformational science

The SKAO Observatory: how to deliver transformational science

Luca Stringhetti, Head of Engineering – Square Kilometre Array Observatory

Venue
Van Emden Theatre, Edith
Morley Building, Whiteknights
Campus, University of
Reading
Lecture starts at 19:30, tea/coffee available from 19:00.

The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is the next-generation radio astronomy-driven facility that will transform our understanding of the Universe pushing the boundaries of science. The SKAO is an intergovernmental organisation (IGO) and consists of the Global HQ in the UK, two telescopes at radio-quiet sites, and associated facilities to support the operations for 50 years. The SKAO telescopes will cover a huge frequency range (from 50 MHz to 15GHz). The lower range will be covered by SKA-Low, an array of 512 aperture arrays, each made up of 256 log- periodic antennas and located in Western Australia, while SKA-Mid, located in South Africa, will extend the frequency range by performing observations with an array of 197 dish antennas. The talk will start with the basic principles of how SKAO will produce transformational science, then it will describe the design and its engineering challenges and will end with the description of construction status and its planned conclusion in 2028 with handover to science operation.

Contact
Prof Richard Mitchell
r.j.mitchell@reading.ac.uk