Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the Next Big Thing in Radio Astronomy: St. Louis Astronomical Society February Meeting

Astronomers use radio telescopes – instruments that collect and focus radio waves instead of light – to study the universe. Nearly every type of astronomical object naturally emits radio waves which are largely unaffected by earth's atmosphere and interstellar dust and gas. Radio astronomy gives us a very different view of the universe than what optical telescopes provide. Radio telescopes like the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Karl Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico have been at the forefront of astronomical discovery for several decades. Now astronomers have planned for a much larger and more sensitive instrument. The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is now under construction in Australia and South Africa. A kilometer is just over .6 mile, so when completed, SKA will be the biggest telescope of any type constructed. Mr. Malolepszy will discuss why it is being built and what is hoped that it will see. He will also give “a peek at some of its planned early observations.”  

Michael Malolepszy has worked as a Radio Telescope Operator at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array in New Mexico and has also worked for the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Washington University and at the St. Louis Science Center where he presents live planetarium programs at the McDonnell Planetarium. He has owned and used over 14 telescopes of various types and sizes and occasionally teaches observational astronomy workshops.

The St. Louis Astronomical Society is an organization for individuals interested in astronomy and telescopes. The public is invited to attend its meetings, telescope observing sessions, and special events. For more information about Astronomical Society events, please visit www.slasonline.org.

Free parking will be available.