radio astronomy

Foreign journalists touring South Africa's centres of innovation excellence were given an inside look at the country's Square Kilometre Array project, an international effort to build the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world, two-thirds of which are being built right here.

It is billions of rand and years in the making, but once the Square Kilometre Array – most of which will be located in South Africa – is up and running, it will offer a clear hotline to the universe. The massive radio telescope installation will help scientists study the stars.

South Africa's Square Kilometre Array project has struck an agreement with the National Radio Astronomy Observatory of the United States that is set to foster high-level science collaboration between the two countries.