The Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKAO) announced this week that its SKA-Mid telescope array in South Africa has achieved "first fringes," signifying its initial operation as an interferometer. This milestone was accomplished using two of its dishes, validating the integration of all systems and confirming the telescope's functionality as a scientific instrument. Reports indicated the announcement occurred on January 7, with one source citing January 8.
Operational Achievement
For the "first fringes" milestone, two of SKA-Mid's 15-meter-diameter dishes were utilized. The observation targeted a radio galaxy estimated to be approximately 2.6 billion light-years away. Philip Diamond, SKAO Director-General, stated that operating multiple dishes in concert as a single telescope represents a technical challenge that has now been met. Betsey Adams, an SKA-Mid commissioning scientist, affirmed that these results validate the intended functionality of both the hardware and software systems, providing a basis for the telescope's subsequent commissioning phase.
The Square Kilometer Array Project
The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project is an international initiative to construct the world's largest radio telescope, designed as a network of radio antennas. It comprises two primary arrays: SKA-Low, located in Western Australia, and SKA-Mid, situated in South Africa's Northern Cape region. The project receives international funding, construction, and operational support from over 10 countries. China is listed as one of the seven founding members and a signatory to the 2019 SKAO Convention.
Current Status and Future Development
Currently, seven dish structures for SKA-Mid have been assembled at the site in the Northern Cape. An additional 12 dishes are reported to be in transit from China. Upon full completion, the SKA-Mid telescope is projected to consist of 197 dishes, integrating the existing MeerKAT radio telescope, which is built and operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Ben Lewis, SKA-Mid Senior Project Manager, indicated that the experience gained during this preparatory period will inform future development. The project anticipates achieving its next milestone—capturing the first image from a four-dish array—within the coming months, followed by a progressive expansion of SKA-Mid's size and capabilities.