MeerKAT: the South African radio telescope that’s transformed our understanding of the cosmos

By Ed Elson, Associate Professor of Astronomy, University of the Western Cape

South Africa’s Karoo region is a vast semi-arid area that stretches across four of the country’s provinces. It is sparsely populated and renowned for its wide open spaces.

In the heart of this landscape, near the small Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory operates a technological marvel that has transformed our understanding of the cosmos. The MeerKAT radio telescope has unlocked cosmic mysteries. It’s fostered scientific…

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