Transforming our science
MeerKat ‘best in the world’ telescope is launched
NELSON Mandela had the foresight in 1994 to invest in science and technology when a white paper was produced which turned South Africa into an astronomy hub. This is according to former minister of science and technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, as he attended the launch of the completed MeerKat in Carnarvon at the weekend.
The first phase of the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) of which MeerKat is a precursor, was launched and attended by several signatories in this Northern Cape town.
MeerKat consists of 64 radio telescope dishes. It is the world’s biggest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world and cost R3.2 billion. Scientists are hopeful that they will find life on other planets with the new radio telescope.
This month South Africa also celebrates the Nelson Mandela centenary. Ngubane said: “In 1994 we decided to concentrate on astronomy and produced a white paper.”
Salt (South African Large Telescope) which is an optical telescope was first built in 2004 and later MeerKat. They will be incorporated in the SKA.
Deputy president David Mabuza unveiled a plaque at the launch. He said it was a special day for Africa.
“We are committed to transformative science. Due to the most progressive legislation 64 MeerKat dishes were launched. R2.2 million was also recently received from the EU for the detailed infrastructure and design for the SKA site,” he said.
Minister of science and technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, said the SKA is going to transform science.
“It will attract more scientists from around the world. It will also transform NEW LANDSCAPE: The MeerKAT radio telescope is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope and will be integrated into the mid-frequency component of SKA Phase 1. It was launched at Carnarvon, Northern Cape on Friday. culture and innovate astronomy for tomorrow’s economy,” she said.
A proud former minister of science and technology Naledi Pandor, was also there. She said they took the project from conception.
“It was a team effort and it was the wonderful commitment shown by everyone,” she said.
Fernando Camilo one of the scientists, also unveiled the first image which MeerKat produced.
“This is the best image ever made by any telescope in the world. In coming years astronomers will use MeerKat to explain how galaxies were formed. We had MeerKat looking at the centre of the milky way. The centre of the universe is tricky to produce images from. But with MeerKat it produced the clearest view of the centre of the milky way. It is the first time this image is being shown.
“MeerKat is a really remarkable machine and all South Africans should be proud of it. As a scientist I am excited. We built a telescope which is the best of its kind in the world. With the telescope I am hopeful that we will find life on other planets,” he said.
Acting chief director of astronomy Takalane Nemaungani, said: “Now that MeerKat has been completed we want to do science. The completion of MeerKat cost R3.2 billion. This investment also had an impact on the communities in the Karoo. It had a huge impact on education.” MONDAY JULY 16 2018
IT WILL ATTRACT MORE SCIENTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IT WILL ALSO TRANSFORM CULTURE AND INNOVATE ASTRONOMY.