Here's the latest update on the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) project from “Our man in Cape Town,” Benne Holwerda, researcher at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Engineers on the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) project are constructing a seven-dish prototype, KAT-7. These first seven dishes will help the engineers learn how to build dishes that do not cause interference in observations, connect them up, point them all, and build the software.
This latest development is an exciting new phase in the MeerKAT project. No matter how nice the technical drawings look, it is awesome to see foundations poured and dishes going up.
The support site, the operations building and residences for the technicians and astronomers are finished. These facilities are for KAT-7, the later MeerKAT, and hopefully Square Kilometer Array in the more distant future.
The dish assembly shed is the latest structure to be finished. “Shed” is a misnomer for a building with a clean industrial work floor, air conditioning, and generous space for dish construction. The structure houses the dish mold in which the composite dishes will be poured.
These composite dishes are a unique feature of the KAT-7 and MeerKAT. Most other radio telescopes are metal grids with chicken wire. The composite dish is lighter and more durable.
Benne sent several updates, so stay tuned for more soon!
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