Construction has officially begun on the world’s largest radio telescope, a groundbreaking project aimed at unlocking the mysteries of the universe. Known as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the telescope will consist of thousands of antennas spread across South Africa and Australia, forming a combined collecting area of over one square kilometer.

The SKA is designed to explore some of the most profound questions in astrophysics, including the origins of the universe, the formation of galaxies, and the potential existence of extraterrestrial life. With its unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, the telescope will detect faint radio signals from billions of light-years away, providing scientists with a clearer picture of cosmic phenomena.

The international collaboration behind the SKA involves over a dozen countries, making it one of the most ambitious scientific projects to date. The construction phase is expected to take several years, with the telescope anticipated to become operational in the late 2020s. Once completed, the SKA will serve as a critical tool for advancing humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.