South Africa launches powerful new telescope

South Africa has unveiled a new super radio telescope that will study galaxy formation, a first phase of what will be the world's largest telescope in a project to try to unravel the secrets of the universe.


The 64-dish MeerKAT telescope in the Northern Cape region of South Africa will be integrated into a multinational Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

When fully operational, the SKA telescope will be 50 times more powerful than current telescopes.

"The telescope will be the largest of its own kind in the world with image resolution quality exceeding the Hubble Space Telescope by a factor of 50 times," David Mabuza, South Africa's deputy president, said on Friday.

"This day represents some of Africa's milestones in our quest to catch up with the rest of the world and make our own contributions to civilisation," he said.
   [aljazeera.com]
 14/7/18