Caltech to build deep synoptic array in Nevada by 2029
Researchers at Caltech are gearing up to begin construction on the Deep Synoptic Array (DSA), a massive new radio telescope in the Nevada desert, set to be ready by 2029.
With 1,650 dishes spread across miles of open land, far more than New Mexico's famous Very Large Array, the DSA is on track to become the world's most powerful tool for exploring space through radio waves.
DSA will process and share data
The DSA will work as one giant instrument, focusing on bright cosmic signals like pulsars and fast radio bursts. Its remote location near Great Basin National Park helps keep interference low.
What is really cool: Caltech astronomy professor and DSA principal investigator Gregg Hallinan says it could spot nearly 1 billion radio sources, possibly matching all previous discoveries by other telescopes just on its first day.
Plus, data will be processed almost instantly and shared publicly, making big science accessible to everyone.
Even better, Caltech teamed up with cake pan maker Fat Daddio's to help build key parts and keep costs down.