South Africa Wins Science Panel's Backing To Host SKA Telescope

ananyo writes "A scientific panel has narrowly recommended South Africa over Australia as the best site for the proposed Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an enormous US$2.1-billion radio telescope. While the project's member states have yet to make a final decision on where the telescope will go, the odds are now that the African bid will ultimately win out against the joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host the project. The SKA radio telescope will be made up of some a 3,000 dishes, each 15 metres in diameter. The project will try to answer big questions about the early Universe: how the first elements heavier than helium formed, for example, and how the first galaxies coalesced. The telescope is so sensitive that it could even pick up television signals from distant worlds — something that might aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence."

Comments

Re:As an Australian, all I can say is -

[bruce_the_loon]

As a South African, I'll reply with -

"Bring it on Warnie-boy"

Re:As an Australian, all I can say is -

[Anonymous Coward]

I can see it now. 3 minutes (roughly 3 deliveries) before the decision is due, the last two standing saffers on the committee will attempt an ill-judged debate-point, allowing Mark Waugh to underarm the proposal to Gilly at the other end for an easy counter-point and victory, thus beginning the decades-long tradition of South African choking at international business deals.

Why oh why did you send Alan Donald and Lance Kluesener as your delegates?? :D

Re:I disagree, but I'm not sure how to explain

[Anonymous Coward]

Because white reflects more radiation than black???

Radio Spectrum Pollution . . . ?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Just as light pollution is a problem for astronomers, Radio Spectrum Pollution is a problem for radio astronomers. Won't this be a big problem in South Africa?

With that constant drone of vuvuzelas, you can't hear a damn thing in that country.