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2014-03-5
      19:00

Speaker's Night: The Square Kilometre Array, World's Largest Telescope

SKA: The Largest Telescope in the World 

The Square Kilometre Array, or SKA, is a global project to build a next generation radio telescope. The SKA will have a collecting area of approximately one square kilometre, making it the largest telescope on Earth. It will operate at wavelengths from meters to centimetres. The SKA will have 10 to 100 times higher sensitivity than any existing radio telescope. Fundamental discoveries on all scales of the universe are expected! Components of the SKA will be sited in Australia and Southern Africa, with construction expected to start in 2016.

I will discuss both the instrument itself, as well as the science it is expected to do, which ranges from detecting and determining the structure of the first objects in the universe through observations of Hydrogen in the early universe, through detecting gravitational waves passing through the Galaxy by their effect on the timing of thousands of pulsars, to imaging proto-planetary disks to determine whether they could support life. 

Speaker: Dr. Michael Bietenholz, York University

Once a month, except for December and during the summer, we invite someone from the scientific community to share their expertise and latest research.

Talk starts at 7:30, socializing starts at 7:00.

Who can attend: everyone including non-members

Fee: free

Reservation not needed 

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