The first image from an early version of the Ska-Low radio telescope shows about 85 galaxies in a sky area equivalent to 100 full moons and was made using data from the first four stations connected by interferometry.
These stations were installed last year in Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, at the Murchison Radio Astronomy Observatory operated by Csiro in the Wajarri Yamaji territory in Australia, and represent less than one percent of the entire telescope.
Once all the antennas are installed, the same sky field will reveal much more than we can see today: scientists calculate that the telescope will be sensitive enough to show over 600,000 galaxies in the same frame.
Six countries are involved the design of the Ska-Low telescope: Australia, China, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands and the UK. The National Institute of Astrophysics has optimized the latest antenna design Skala4.1Al in collaboration with CNR-IEIIT and industrial partner Sirio Antenne. CNR-IEIIT has also developed the innovative drone which enables antenna characterisation and radio telescope calibration.
www.media.inaf.it/2025/03/17/australia-prima-immagine-skalow/
Credits: SKAO