Radio sky and the right to observe it

TL;DR

This paper discusses the SKA project, New Zealand's potential contributions to radio astronomy and geodesy, and addresses RFI challenges through measurements in New Zealand.

Contribution

It outlines New Zealand's role in SKA, highlights geodesy applications, and presents RFI measurement results relevant for radio astronomy.

Findings

RFI levels vary across New Zealand locations

New Zealand can contribute to SKA design and geodesy

Radio frequency interference is a significant limiting factor

Abstract

It was decided in May 2012 that the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be built in Africa and Australia, two Southern Hemisphere continents. Here we discuss the plan for SKA design and construction, and how New Zealand radio astronomers can participate in this project and contribute to astronomy and astrophysics research. Geodesy and the study of tectonic plate motion is another important area of research for New Zealand radio astronomy to contribute to. As New Zealand is located at the boundary between two colliding tectonic plates (Australian and Pacific) and most of geological activity in New Zealand originates from their motion, it is important to monitor the relative plate motion with high precision using both GPS and radio astronomical techniques. We discuss radio frequency interference (RFI) as a limiting factor for radio astronomy, and provide results of RFI measurements in different locations in New Zealand.