Astronomers are one step closer to unveiling the secrets of the cosmos as one of the humanity's biggest ever science endeavours gets underway in Western Australia.
The first of more than 130,000 two-metre-tall, Christmas tree-shaped antennas were installed at the world's largest radio astronomy observatory, the $3 billion Square Kilometre Array, on Thursday.
When completed, the antennas of the SKA-Low telescope will stand sentinel at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, a place name that means sharing sky and stars, at the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory on Wajarri Yamaji Country, 800 kilometres north of Perth.
Along with its partner installation in South Africa, the SKA-Mid, the observatory will enable scientists to explore the first billion years after the so-called dark ages of the universe, when the first stars and galaxies formed.
The observatory's director-general Professor Phillip Diamond says astronomers have been dreaming of this project for decades.
"To see the antennas that make up the SKA-Low telescope finally on the ground is a proud moment for us all," he says.
"These telescopes are next-generation instruments, allowing us to test Einstein's theories and to observe space in more detail than ever before.
"With this telescope in Australia, we will watch the births and deaths of the first stars and galaxies, giving us invaluable clues about how the universe evolved."
The sheer size and number of antennas means the observatory will provide a significant leap in sensitivity, resolution and survey speed.
It will be able to see the sky more clearly, to reveal fainter details and see more at once than other state-of-the-art telescopes.
The powerful telescopes will act like time machines, allowing scientists to see things never before possible in the history of humanity, says SKA-Low telescope director Sarah Pearce.
"It may not look like other telescopes you've seen," she says.
"But the SKA-Low telescope in Australia will be able to map the sky more than 100 times faster than other state-of-the-art telescopes, and will be so sensitive that it can detect the faintest radio signals that have travelled billions of light years across space."
CSIRO chief executive Dr Doug Hilton says we are witnessing a milestone moment for an extraordinary science mega-project.
"The SKA project truly evokes another scientific age of wonder, promising new discoveries that will challenge and enrich our understanding of the universe itself," he says
A group of 10 field technicians, including seven from the Wajarri community, have been tasked with installing the massive array across the 74km site.
"Through this important work, opportunities will continue to be created that allow our people to actively manage our heritage and culture and be active participants in the increased employment and economic development opportunities that will flow from the project," Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jamie Strickland says.
"It also firmly places Wajarri Yamaji People on the world stage, and clearly shows how traditional knowledge and culture can help inform today's technology and our understanding of our place in the universe."
