ACURA is pleased to share the announcement from the Government of Canada on becoming a full member of international SKAO radio astronomy project.

The Coalition for Canadian Astronomy (which includes ACURA, CASCA, and Canadian Industry leadership) has provided a press release on “Canada Takes Huge Step to Sustaining International Leadership in Astronomy”.

The SKA consists of two arrays comprised of many dish-shaped radio telescopes and low frequency antennas, working together over large distances. The collective power of these arrays enables this observatory to perform groundbreaking science, mapping our sky with unprecedented detail and speed.

As the largest and one of the most sensitive radio telescopes in the world, the SKA will solve some of the biggest questions about the Universe. In addition, the versatility of the SKA and flexible design means that it will be able to explore new questions, leading to completely unexpected discoveries. The key science drivers for the SKA include the following:

• Strong-field Tests of Gravity with Pulsars and Black Holes

• Cosmology & Dark Energy

• The Origin and Evolution of Cosmic Magnetism

• Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization

• The Transient Radio Sky

• Galaxy Evolution probed in the Radio Continuum

• Galaxy Evolution probed by Neutral Hydrogen

• The Cradle of Life & Astrobiology

The SKA is committed to building partnerships with Indigenous and local communities at both observatory sites, and obtaining free, prior and informed consent from the communities directly involved. The Canadian SKA community is encouraged and supportive of the ongoing SKA engagement activities. The following videos from the UN General Assembly Special Session on “A Global Research Infrastructure for the 21st Century and beyond” held in September 2020 highlight some of SKA’s engagement in Australia and South Africa. More information and videos can be found through the SKA website.