Ghana in the Square Kilometre Array

Abstract

Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, in collaboration with Square Kilometre Array (SKA) -South Africa, is currently converting a redundant 32-metre telecommunications antenna at Kutunse, Ghana into a radio telescope. The aim is to add this antenna to the Africa Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Network (AVN), which South Africa’s Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory is currently the only one. This paper gives an introduction about the Square Kilometer Array, and how a redundant 32-metre telecommunication antenna at Kutunse, Ghana will be converted into a radio telescope and Ghana will be put on the spotlight in radio astronomy science and greatly impact science education in Ghana. The SKA telescopes will be used to study Very Long Baseline Interferometry, radiometry, maser studies, pulsar timing, and supernova. It will also be capable of studying quasars, gamma- ray flares, transient radio source behavior, interacting binary stars, and development of celestial and terrestrial reference frames. Singularly, the dishes are also capable of single dish experiments like spectroscopy, pulsars and radiometry and gain insight into the evolution of the universe.