Aussie Telescope Creates

Aussie telescope creates new atlas of the universe

The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), developed and operated by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, mapped approximately three million galaxies in just 300 hours.

The Rapid ASKAP Continuum Survey is like a Google map of the Universe where most of the millions of star-like points on the map are distant galaxies – about a million of which we’ve never seen before.

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said ASKAP brought together world-class infrastructure with scientific and engineering expertise to unlock the deepest secrets of the Universe.

“ASKAP is applying the very latest in science & technology to age-old questions about the mysteries of the Universe and equipping astronomers around the world with new breakthroughs to solve their challenges,” Dr Marshall said.

“It’s all enabled by innovative receivers developed by CSIRO that feature phased array feed technology, which see ASKAP generate more raw data at a faster rate than Australia’s entire internet traffic.

“In a time when we have access to more data than ever before, ASKAP and the supercomputers that support it are delivering unparalleled insights and wielding the tools that will underpin our data-driven future to make life better for everybody. ”Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews said ASKAP is another outstanding example of Australia’s world-leading radio astronomy capability.

“ASKAP is a major technological development that puts our scientists, engineers and industry in the driver’s seat to lead deep space discovery for the next generation.

This new survey proves that we are ready to make a giant leap forward in the field of radio astronomy,” Minister Andrews said.

The telescope’s key feature is its wide field of view, generated by new CSIRO-designed receivers, that enable ASKAP to take panoramic pictures of the sky in amazing detail.

Using ASKAP at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in outback Western Australia, the survey team observed 83 per cent of the entire sky.

The initial results are published in the Publications of Astronomical Society of Australia. This record-breaking result proves that an all-sky survey can be done in weeks rather than years, opening new opportunities for discovery.

This record-breaking result proves that an all-sky survey can be done in weeks rather than years, opening new opportunities for discovery.

The new data will enable astronomers to undertake statistical analyses of large populations of galaxies, in the same way social researchers use information from a national census.

“This census of the Universe will be used by astronomers around the world to explore the unknown and study everything from star formation to how galaxies and their super-massive black holes evolve and interact,” lead author and CSIRO astronomer Dr David McConnell said.

With ASKAP’s advanced receivers the RACS team only needed to combine 903 images to form the full map of the sky, significantly less than the tens of thousands of images needed for earlier all-sky radio surveys conducted by major world telescopes.

“For the first time ASKAP has flexed its full muscles, building a map of the Universe in greater detail than ever before, and at record speed.

We expect to find tens of millions of new galaxies in future surveys,” Dr McConnell said.

The 13.5 exabytes of raw data generated by ASKAP were processed using hardware and software custombuilt by CSIRO.

The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre’s ‘Galaxy’ supercomputer converted the data into 2D radio images containing a total of 70 billion pixels.

The final 903 images and supporting information amount to 26 terabytes of data.

Pawsey Executive Director Mark Stickells said the supercomputing capability was a key part of ASKAP’s design.

“The Pawsey Supercomputing Centre has worked closely with CSIRO and the ASKAP team since our inception & we are proud to provide essential infrastructure that is supporting science delivering great impact,” Mr Stickells said.

ASKAP’s advanced technologies are providing insights for the development of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international mega-science project to build the world’s largest radio telescopes. CSIRO will host the lowfrequency SKA telescope at the MRO.

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As the defence industry continues to push the envelope with using more mobile technology in the field and on the front lines, the need for even greater levels of innovation, reliability, and integration capabilities and support have become clear. But at the core is that same highly reliable rugged mobile technology that flight crews, special forces and troops on the ground have relied on for years. The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK family of mobile devices continues to be a top choice for these next-generation requirements.

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Panasonic handheld devices such as the TOUGHBOOK N1 are designed for the supply chain worker while being rugged enough for military use. They feature a powerful quad-core processor; an angled, rear-facing barcode reader; and a long-lasting, quick-charging swappable battery.

Mobile devices are now allowing Air Force logistics personnel to conduct work accurately and not be tied down to their desk. Recently, RAAF Logistics Branch rolled out automated data capture units for 27 units across eight bases.

The system consists of a TOUGHBOOK rugged mobile device, a mobile application, and middleware that connects to the current logistic information system through a wireless network.

The units combine mobile scanning technology with barcodes on items to enhance logistics business practices. It also improves logistics data accuracy and transaction speed by reducing manual keyboard entries.

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The new system has drastically reduced the number of paper-based transactions and allows units to perform tasks at the point of transaction and accurately conduct supply business whilst on the move.

Several units at RAAF Base Richmond and Defence Establishment Orchard Hills have also received unique identification labels to use with their devices, consisting of a ruggedised barcode with machine readable data.

By using the new rugged handheld devices, personnel can scan a label located on items such as weapons, radios, and other field equipment. Their use automates and increases the accuracy and speed of issues, receipts, and stocktaking.

At ISECFOR’s detachment in Richmond, the digital scanning system has reduced fortnightly weapons stocktakes from two and a half hours down to just a single hour. Previously, signing out a weapon required personnel to physically write their details down along with the weapon’s serial number. Now it’s as simple as scanning the label and then the personnel’s Defence common access card.

Future plans within Logistics Branch is to increase supply chain effectiveness within other Air Force units.

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