Jodrell Bank Observatory chosen as base for Square Kilometer Array telescope

BBC : The University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK will serve as headquarters for the world’s biggest and most sensitive telescope. The Square Kilometer Array will consist of thousands of small radio dishes spread over a distance of more than 3000 km. It is hoped that the €1.5 billion project, which involves partners from 20 countries, will reveal how planets and galaxies are born, give clues about the nature of dark energy, and help to detect signs of alien civilizations. Construction is scheduled to begin by 2016 and to be completed by 2024. The location of the telescope, which must be in the Southern Hemisphere, is yet to be decided, but could be built in Australia or southern Africa.