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The Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), developed and operated by the Australian national science agency, CSIRO, has mapped approximately 3,000,000 galaxies in just 300 hours. This quick ASKAP Continuum survey is like a Google map of the universe where most of the millions of star-like point maps are distant galaxies.
CSIRO CEO, Dr. Larry Marshall, said “ASKAP is applying the latest in science and technology to age-old questions about the mysteries of the universe and is providing astronomers around the world with discoveries to solve their challenges.”
“It’s all enabled by innovative CSIRO-developed receivers that feature phased array power technology, which sees ASKAP generate more raw data at a faster rate than all of Australia’s Internet traffic.”
“At a time when we have access to more data than ever before, ASKAP and the supercomputers that support it are providing unprecedented insights and using the tools that will support our data-driven future to make life better for all.”
Using ASKAP, the scientists were able to observe 83% of the entire sky. And this record-breaking result proves that a full-sky survey can be done in weeks rather than years.
The result of this investigation is expected to help astronomers undertake statistical analyzes of large populations of galaxies.
CSIRO’s lead author and astronomer Dr. David McConnell said: “Astronomers around the world will use this census of the universe to explore the unknown and study everything from star formation to how galaxies and their supermassive black holes evolve and interact.”
“With ASKAP’s advanced receivers, the RACS team only needed to combine 903 images to form the complete sky map, significantly fewer than the tens of thousands of images needed for the first all-sky radio surveys conducted by the world’s leading telescopes.”
“For the first time, ASKAP flexed all its muscles, building a map of the universe in more detail than ever and at record speed.”
“We expect to find tens of millions of new galaxies in future investigations.”
The final 903 images and supporting information amount to 26 terabytes of data.
Mr. Stickells said, “The Pawsey Supercomputing Center has worked closely with CSIRO and the ASKAP team since the beginning, and we are proud to provide the essential infrastructure that supports science and delivers great impact.”
Journal reference:
- D. McConnell et al. The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey I: Design and first results, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia (2020). DOI: 10.1017 / pasa.2020.41
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