Abstract:
ASKAP is one of the pathfinder instruments for the Square Kilometre Array being built at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in West Australia. It consists of 36 12-m diameter 3-axis dishes fitted with chequerboard Phased Array Feed Receivers operating from 700 - 1800 MHz. These PAFs open up a new realm of radio-astronomy, with a field of view of 30 square degrees. Raw data rates of over 70 Terabits per second create new challenges for data transport and processing. ASKAP will be the fastest survey radio-telescope in the world.
This $180million telescope has been established on the unique radio-quiet site, the MRO and is entering commissioning in 2013.