South African Radio Telescope Finds 1300 Previously Unseen Galaxies

A South African radio telescope was able to find 1,300 galaxies in a small corner of the universe where only 70 had been seen in the past.

According to Yahoo News, South Africa's MeerKat radio telescope has spotted thousands of galaxies in a tiny corner of the universe. The report said that in the past, there were only 70 galaxies found in that part of the universe, leading experts to claim that the said radio telescope has a phenomenal power.

The satellite, located about 600 miles north of Cape Town, took its first image using only 16 of its 64 activated planned dishes. When all the receptors work, it will form part of the multi-national Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which can be considered as the world's most powerful radio telescope.

The imaged that MeerKat produced was far better than what was expected. The Guardian reported that according to the chief scientist of the SKA in South Africa, Fernando Camilo, even with the current capacity, MeerKAT "is already the best radio telescope in the southern hemisphere."

There are at least 200 scientists, engineers and technicians who are working with industry, local and foreign universities to develop the technologies, hardware, as well as software systems for MeerKat.

The South African minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, said "this the first time that an African group of countries will host global science infrastructure of this character."

"It's a first for us as Africa and also it's a first for the world because the world hasn't done this in Africa," said the minister. "We are building a global infrastructure for the world." "We can now expect when the 64 dishes are in place next year, it will be the best telescope, not only in the southern hemisphere but in the world," said Pandor.

Meanwhile, the SKA, set to be fully operational by the 2020s, will have about 3,000 dishes fanned out across an area of one square kilometer which will allow astronomers to gaze in to space much deeper than ever before. CNN News also said that SKA claims that it will have a discovery potential 10,000 times more than the most advanced modern instruments. It was also said that SKA will explore black holes, supernovae, dark energy and will also look into the origins of the universe.

It was also said in the report that there are more than 20 countries that are known members of SKA. The main bases for operation is said to be in Australia and South Africa, but the project's main headquarters is in the United Kingdom.