Powerful New Radio Telescope Will Be Split Among Countries

A new $2-billion radio telescope, described as the world’s most powerful, will be split among sites in South Africa and in Australia and New Zealand, according to the international association that has been raising money for the project. The instrument, known as the Square Kilometre Array, will take advantage of already-constructed antennas in locations in western Australia and New Zealand, as well as a new network of facilities stretching from South Africa to Ghana, reports The Times, a Johannesburg newspaper. But The Sydney Morning Herald says some astronomers are worried that splitting the site could end up creating additional risks for the project once the initial phase is complete. The full telescope, which is expected to be online in 2024, is designed to be 50 times as sensitive as current instruments.