What is the SKA?
The SKA will be the world's biggest radio telescope. It will be made up of over 3000 dishes placed all over whole countries, working as one single telescope. Australia and New Zealand are competing together to have this mega-science project built in our countries.
To learn more about the SKA project visit the SKA Education website created by Questacon and Scitech.
Why should we build the SKA?
The Universe is big! We currently only see a tiny fraction of what is out there to see. With the SKA we will be able to look at the stars even in the day time! The SKA will answer some of the biggest questions we have about the Universe. How do stars and galaxies form? What is this mysterious "dark matter"? Is ours the only solar system with life?
As well as learning more about the universe, the SKA will need new inventions for its power, computers and electronics. Even if you don't get to use the SKA, you might find some of its technology in your next mobile phone or music player.
You can find out more about why we should build the SKA at the SKA Education website.
SKA in the Classroom
Australians and New Zealanders are coming together for Discover SKA to celebrate the potential of the SKA project. Using Discover SKA materials, educators can become part of this international event, introduce classes to radio astronomy and even become part of a "virtual SKA".
Teachers and students can further explore the discovery potential of radio astronomy through the free teaching resource Window to the Universe and the New Zealand SKA activity book. School groups can also control the Parkes radio telescope through the PULSE@Parkes program and make scientific discoveries like those to be made from the SKA.
For more information about a range of CSIRO astronomy education activities, refer to Australia Telescope Outreach and Education.
Astronomy WA provides useful resources to teachers, students and community members interested in this field, activities at observatories, interactive shows and scholarships for teachers.