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The Square Kilometre Array Organisation (SKAO) released its first
Science Data Challenge earlier this year. Developed by the SKAO’s
Project Science team, the challenge requires the analysis of a series
of high resolution images created through data
simulations. Researchers are invited to download the images and use
their own software to find, identify and classify the sources. The
key aim of the series of Data Challenges is to prepare the science
community for the kind of data products they will receive from SKA
observations, and to gather valuable feedback which will inform the
development of data reduction procedures.
The first Science Data Challenge consists of nine large images,
which show how
the SKA’s mid-frequency array, to be located in South Africa, would
see the radio sky at three different frequencies (560 MHz, 1.4 GHz and
9.2 GHz), and at three depths: eight hours, 100 hours and 1000 hours
of observing time. Future Science Data Challenges will also simulate datasets for
the SKA’s low-frequency telescope, which will be sited in Australia.
(Image credit: SKAO)
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