The largest telescope network in the world, SKA, becomes a governing body

The world's largest science center has taken an important step from concept to reality.

The representatives of the countries involved in the Kilometer square chart The project (SKA) signed a treaty in Rome on Tuesday, March 12, officially establishing the organization that will oversee and operate the huge network of radio telescopes.

"Rome was not built in a day.Also, designing, building and using the world's largest telescope requires decades of effort, expertise, innovation, perseverance and global collaboration, "said Catherine Cesarsky, chairman of SKA's board of directors, in a statement. statement Tuesday. "Today, we have laid the foundation that will allow us to make SKA a reality."

Related: 10 Largest Telescopes on Earth: How They Measure Up

The SKA will consist of hundreds of radio dishes and thousands of small antennas in South Africa and Australia. The total collection area of ​​the dishes will be about 1 square kilometer, or 0.4 square kilometer – hence the name.

When this network becomes operational – a milestone currently targeted for the mid-2020s – it will be by far the most sensitive and powerful radio telescope on the planet, project representatives said. Astronomers will use SKA for a variety of purposes, from studying gravitational waves to mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies to hunting signs of intelligent alien life.

"Like the Galileo telescope in its day, the SKA will revolutionize our understanding of the world around us and our place in the interior," said Philip Diamond, executive director of the SKA Organization, responsible for network design. , the same statement. "Today's historic signature demonstrates a global commitment behind this vision and opens the door to generations of revolutionary discoveries."

(Image: © SKA Organization)

The new treaty establishes the Square kilometers Observatory (SKAO), which is responsible for the construction and operation of the huge network of telescopes. Representatives from seven countries – Australia, China, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom – signed the treaty on Tuesday, representatives of the SKA project said.

The seven founding members of SKAO are these seven nations, with India and Sweden, expected to sign the treaty soon. The project headquarters is located in the United Kingdom.

The first SKA construction contracts should be awarded towards the end of next year. These contracts are expected to amount to nearly 700 million euros ($ 792 million at current exchange rates), said project representatives.

Mike Wall's book on the search for extraterrestrial life, "Over there"(Grand Central Publishing, 2018, illustrated by Karl Tate), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.