The ambition is to create a system of distributed radio telescopes whose total collecting area is 1sq km. The SKA is set to provide vast amounts of data to help scientists answer important questions about the universe.
Depending on the frequency selected, the SKA will open the largest ever window on the universe– at frequencies of less than 1GHz, it's likely the field of view will be around 200 square degrees. Because of this, the entire sky will be surveyed more quickly than previously.
The UK plan, backed the UK government via by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the University of Manchester and Cheshire East Council, as well as Oxford and Cambridge Universities, envisages designing and constructing a campus to meet the needs of the SKA project with space to grow if the project requires it in the future.
To read more about the SKA project: http://www.newelectronics.co.uk/electronics-technology/cover-story-astronomical-data-challenge/72813/
