Square Kilometre Array, Radio telescope complex in Meerkat National Park, South Africa
The Square Kilometre Array is a radio interferometer in Meerkat National Park, South Africa, that uses distributed parabolic dishes and phased receivers. The facility relies on connected receivers in multiple countries to capture and combine radio waves from space.
Construction at this research site started in December 2022, after decades of preparation through international cooperation. Earlier, test facilities were built to trial the technology under real conditions.
The installation offers local communities access to educational programs in radio astronomy, teaching basic technical knowledge about space research. In rural regions, new jobs have also emerged for maintenance and technical support of the receiving station.
The receiving area lies in remote zones with minimal electrical interference, so access is permitted only with authorization. Visitors can use the information center to learn more about how the technology works.
The array captures radio waves with wavelengths of a few centimeters (about an inch), which pass through cosmic dust and thus make invisible processes visible. This technique allows researchers to study objects that remain hidden in visible light.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
