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The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a set of radio telescope interferometer arrays in development in two regions of the world, one centered in Australia and the other in and around South Africa. The project is the work of an international consortium with other countries contributing. The name reflects the goal of a set of arrays with a combined collecting area on the order of a square kilometer. It is basically an umbrella project to create three arrays, each for different frequency regime and with an unprecedented collecting area:
Plans have been to bring SKA out in two phases: SKA1 and SKA2. The current effort is on SKA1 development (often just called SKA), which includes initial versions of SKA-LOW and SKA-MID, with construction beginning in the early 2020s and science observations beginning using a portion of it in 2028. The commencement of official construction was announced in December 2022 after finalization of necessary funding and contracts. Operation of a prototype SKA-MID dish was announced in December 2023.
The term Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) is the name of a consortium that is producing SKA, and has also been used for the future array itself.
The initials SKAO are also used for Square Kilometre Array Organization, an earlier-formed, larger consortium that contributed to the planning.
Some somewhat-recently-deployed radio telescope arrays have been termed SKA Precursors or SKA Pathfinders, generally implying that their effort will share technical and scientific information with the SKA effort, serving as pathfinders/pilots. The term is also undoubtedly a means of reducing the impression that the efforts might be considered redundant.
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