ASKAP
The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder is a radio telescope array located at Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is operated by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and forms part of the Australia Telescope National Facility. Construction commenced in late 2009 and first light was in October 2012. ASKAP consists of 36 identical parabolic antennas, each 12 metres in diameter, working together as a single astronomical interferometer with a total collecting area of approximately 4,000 square metres. Each antenna is equipped with a phased-array feed, significantly increasing the field of view. This design provides both fast survey speed and high sensitivity. The facility began as a technology demonstrator for the international Square Kilometre Array, a planned radio telescope which will be larger and more sensitive. The ASKAP site has been selected as one of the SKA's two central locations.
