A new radio telescope planned for Nevada could dramatically change how astronomers observe the radio universe. The Deep Synoptic Array (DSA), a project led by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), recently passed its final design review, clearing the way for construction of what researchers describe as the most sensitive radio telescope ever built.

When completed, the array will consist of 1,650 radio dishes spread across an area approximately 12 by 10 miles (20 by 16 kilometres). The telescope is designed to combine the sensitivity normally associated with giant single-dish observatories with the sharp imaging capabilities of large interferometer arrays. Science operations are expected to begin near the end of the decade.

Researchers say the DSA will survey the sky at a pace far beyond existing radio observatories. Current radio telescopes have collectively identified approximately 20 million radio sources, but project scientists estimate the DSA could detect a similar number during its first day of operation. Over the course of its initial survey, the telescope is expected to catalogue nearly one billion radio-emitting objects.

Among the telescope’s most ambitious goals is the study of fast radio bursts, pulsars, black holes, and other transient phenomena. The system will continuously monitor large portions of the sky, allowing astronomers to rapidly locate brief events that might otherwise be missed. The telescope is also expected to support follow-up observations of gravitational-wave detections and could discover more than 20,000 previously unknown pulsars.

A key feature of the project is a real-time processing system that developers describe as a “radio camera.” Rather than recording massive quantities of raw data for later analysis, the system will create science-ready radio images as observations are collected. This approach dramatically reduces storage requirements while allowing observations to be shared quickly with researchers around the world.

The Deep Synoptic Array also incorporates several unusual engineering solutions aimed at reducing costs while maintaining performance. Among them is the use of specially modified aluminium cake pans manufactured by the bakeware company Fat Daddio’s as components within the antenna feed system. Combined with room-temperature receivers, GPU-based processing, and a high-speed fibre-optic network, the innovations demonstrate how modern radio astronomy increasingly relies on advances in both computing and manufacturing to explore the universe.

More Information - https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/caltech-readies-to-build-worlds-most-sensitive-radio-telescope