MeerKAT, Radio interferometer in Northern Cape, South Africa
MeerKAT is a radio telescope facility with 64 antennas, each 13.5 meters in diameter, distributed across the semi-arid Karoo region. The antennas work together and transmit their data through fiber-optic cables to a central processing building, where specialized computers analyze the observations.
Construction began in 2013 and was completed in 2018, marking South Africa's entry into international radio astronomy. The project emerged from the need to conduct radio observations in a remote location with minimal radio interference.
The facility serves as a hub for scientific collaboration in South Africa, drawing astronomers and students from around the world. It strengthens local expertise in radio astronomy and connects South African research with global projects.
The facility sits in a sparsely populated region, so visitors should check road conditions and bring supplies and water. The nearest town is Carnarvon, from where tours are often organized.
The facility captured unprecedented images of the galactic center, revealing massive balloon-like structures extending hundreds of light-years above the Milky Way. This discovery changed our understanding of how energy from supermassive black holes affects galaxies.
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