In the chapter we mentioned several radio telescopes under construction. Do a search to find the status of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), and the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). When is each one scheduled to be completed?

Short Answer

Expert verified
ATA is operational, SKA's first phase is expected to be completed by 2027, and FAST is operational.

Step by step solution

01

- Allen Telescope Array (ATA)

Search for the current status of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA). Note the construction progress and any scheduled completion dates.
02

- Square Kilometer Array (SKA)

Search for the current status of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Make a note of its construction progress and scheduled completion date.
03

- Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST)

Search for the current status of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST). Write down its current operational status and if there are any pending completion tasks left.
04

- Compilation and Conclusion

Compile the information gathered from the searches for ATA, SKA, and FAST. Present a brief summary indicating the scheduled completion dates for each telescope.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Allen Telescope Array
The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is unique because it's designed primarily for searching for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). Located in California, the ATA is a network of 42 radio dishes working together to observe the sky. Each dish is 6.1 meters in diameter.
Construction for the ATA began in the early 2000s, supported by a collaboration between the SETI Institute and UC Berkeley. By 2007, the first phase was completed, enabling limited operations.
The array was initially planned to expand to 350 dishes, but financial constraints have delayed this expansion. Currently, research and observations continue with the operational 42 dishes. While the full completion date remains uncertain, the ATA continues to provide invaluable data and insights.
Square Kilometer Array
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is poised to become the world's largest radio telescope, spanning sites in both Australia and South Africa. The goal is to build an array with a total collecting area of one square kilometer, enhancing our ability to study the universe with unprecedented detail.
The SKA project is divided into two phases: SKA1 and SKA2. The first phase, SKA1, includes constructing thousands of dishes and antenna stations. As of recent updates, SKA1 construction began in 2021 and is expected to be completed by the late 2020s.
SKA2 will follow, expanding the array further and improving its capabilities. This ambitious project aims to answer fundamental questions about the universe, including the origins of galaxies and the nature of dark matter, highlighting its significance in advancing our understanding of cosmos.
Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) holds the title of the world's largest filled-aperture radio telescope. Located in a natural depression in Guizhou, China, FAST has a massive dish with an impressive 500-meter diameter, designed to collect faint radio waves from space.
Construction began in 2011, and FAST was completed and began testing in 2016. It officially began full operations in January 2020, after a series of testing and calibration phases.
FAST's design allows it to observe a wide range of frequencies, making it a versatile instrument for various astronomical research, including the study of pulsars, interstellar molecules, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. With its groundbreaking sensitivity, FAST is set to make significant contributions to our understanding of the universe.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The VLBA employs an array of radio telescopes ranging across \(8,000 \mathrm{km}\) of Earth's surface from the Virgin Islands to Hawaii. a. Calculate the angular resolution of the array when radio astronomers are observing interstellar water molecules at a microwave wavelength of \(1.35 \mathrm{cm}\) b. How does this resolution compare with the angular resolution of two large optical telescopes separated by 100 meters and operating as an interferometer at a visible wavelength of \(550 \mathrm{nm}\) ?

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