Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope, initially aiming to detect hydrogen gas in a specific galaxy, made a surprising discovery by identifying 49 previously unknown galaxies.
- The MeerKAT telescope, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), showcased its potential in this discovery.
The MeerKAT radio telescope is a 64-antenna telescope in the Northern Cape region of South Africa that was launched in 2018
It’s operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and is part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) initiative
Scientists use the MeerKAT to study hydrogen activity and pulsars, and the telescope could help deepen our understanding of how the universe formed.
