Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder

The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder contains thirty-six identical parabolic antennas, each measuring twelve meters in diameter, spread across six kilometers of terrain.

Construction of this advanced radio telescope began in 2009, with scientists achieving first light observations in October 2012 at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.

The observatory stands on the traditional lands of the Wajarri Yamaji People, who maintain deep connections to this region of Western Australia.

Data collected by the telescope travels to the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre in Perth for immediate processing through specialized astronomical software.

The facility mapped three million galaxies in the southern sky during 300 hours of observation, discovering one million previously unknown celestial objects.

Location: Western Australia

Inception: 2009

Official opening: October 5, 2012

Part of: Square Kilometre Array, Australia Telescope National Facility, Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory

Website: http://atnf.csiro.au/projects/askap

GPS coordinates: -26.69600,116.63700

Latest update: March 2, 2025 23:54