[AstroNet] NEWS FROM THE SKA AFRICA PROJECT, OCTOBER 2010

Wed Oct 6 22:21:28 SAST 2010

	 October 2010  	

Innovative  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/01.php> new design
for SA's MeerKAT	

	Following an extensive engineering design process, the baseline
design concept for the South African MeerKAT precursor telescope has been
decided. This design process consisted of an in-depth design study that
investigated implementation options and tradeoffs for all key subsystems,
and culminated in a Concept Design Review (CoDR) undertaken by an
independent panel of international experts. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/01.php> on	

New  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/02.php> measurements of
radio frequency interference	

	The radio quietness of a proposed site for a radio telescope - in
other words, the absence of interfering radio signals from mobile phones,
televisions, radios and other electrical devices - will be one of the key
considerations in selecting whether the core array of the Square Kilometre
Array (SKA) will be built in South Africa or Australia. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/02.php> on	

Africa  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/03.php> unites behind
continent's SKA bid	

	The African SKA Working Group held its 5th meeting in Accra, Ghana
from 1-2 September 2010. The purpose of the African SKA Working Group is to
facilitate action on issues relevant to Africa's bid for the SKA, including;
site characterisation and readiness and the development of radio astronomy
in Africa and science and engineering capacity development at local
universities. Read  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/03.php> on

IAU  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/04.php> Astronomy
Development Office will be in South Africa	

	The international astronomy community has decided to base its new
10-year programme to promote astronomy in the developing world in South
Africa. The new International Astronomical Union (IAU) Office for Astronomy
Development will be at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape
Town. This positions South Africa as a leader in an ambitious global
strategy to bring astronomy to developing countries across the world. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/04.php> on	

Global  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/05.php> partnerships to
meet SKA demands	

	The SKA Africa Project works closely with leading science and
engineering teams around the globe. These collaborations make it possible to
push the boundaries of science and technology towards fulfilling the
scientific, engineering and technical requirements of the SKA. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/05.php> on	

Developing  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/06.php> skills for
the future	

	The SKA Africa Project has energised the development of high level
skills in radio astronomy and related engineering disciplines in Southern
Africa. The number of professionals working in radio astronomy increased
from 12 in 2003 to 54 in 2010. There are now also about seventy engineers,
scientists and technicians in the Project's office working on the
development and construction of the MeerKAT telescope. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/06.php> on	

SKA  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/07.php> Africa boosts maths
and science at nearby schools	

	SKA Africa's schools outreach programme aims to change the face of
science and mathematics teaching in Carnarvon and Williston - the towns
nearest to South Africa's proposed site for the core of the SKA telescope.
Read  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/07.php> on	

Northern  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/08.php> Cape
communities gear up to support Africa's SKA bid	

	The SKA Africa project has established stakeholder forums in the
towns of Carnarvon and Williston, and is in the process of setting up a
similar forum in Van Wyksvlei. These small Karoo towns are located in the
region of the proposed site for the core of the SKA. The forums will keep
these communities up to date on Africa's bid to host the SKA, as well as the
building of the MeerKAT radio telescope in the same area. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/08.php> on	

HartRAO  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/09.php> 26m radio
telescope recommissioned	

	The 26m diameter radio telescope at the South Africa's
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) has been recommissioned
following a major repair project. Built in 1960 as part of NASA's Deep Space
Programme, the main bearing in the telescope's polar shaft failed in October
2008 and the telescope had to be shut down. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/09.php> on	

Houwteq  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/10.php> Anechoic Room
Facility	

	The Houwteq test facilities are operated by the Institute for
Satellite and Software Applications (ISSA), a government facility managed by
South Africa's Department of Communications. The facilities are located near
Grabouw in the Western Cape, about 100 km East of Cape Town. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/10.php> on	

Updated  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/11.php> branding for SKA
Africa	
The branding (logo) of the SKA Africa project has been adjusted to reflect
our key partnership with other African countries in our bid to host the
Square Kilometre Array. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/11.php> on	

New  <http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/12.php> home for SKA Africa
in Cape Town	
The Cape Town office of the SKA Africa project has relocated to new
premises. The new street and postal address is: SKA SA, 3rd Floor, The Park,
Park Road, Pinelands, 7405, South Africa. Read
<http://www.ska.ac.za/newsletter/issues/11/12.php> on	

For more information, please visit  <http://www.ska.ac.za/> www.ska.ac.za

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