Australian astronomers today met for the second annual OzSKA meeting, to discuss developments in the mega-science project, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – with a focus not only on astronomy, but also technological development and the evolution of the SKA Organisation itself.
The aim of this meeting was to provide an update about recent progress within the SKA project including: the development of key science and working group activities, how to participate, key upcoming dates, and progress towards the realisation of scientific operations on the first phase of the SKA, known as SKA1.
The afternoon session focused on a discussion of the more physical aspects of the SKA in Australia, such as the radio-quiet environment of CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, the MWA telescope paving the way to SKA1-Low, and lastly, enabling survey science with the SKA precursor instruments.
OzSKA was established to foster collaboration between Australian scientists who are, or would like to be, involved in the SKA. Driving this is the aim to build a community of knowledgeable scientists ready to make use of the SKA once it is constructed, and maximise science from the telescope.