With the SKA telescopes now in their construction phase, the first science observations are almost in sight. In order to ensure that the planning, designs and operational model are optimised to deliver transformational science to the community, we have embarked on a detailed analysis of the end-to-end systems of both the Mid and Low telescopes. As well as considering the details of the system designs and operational plans, we have incorporated science planning from within the community to deliver a relatively sophisticated view a of year in the life of the SKA telescopes. This year in the life is incredibly valuable to the refinement of SKAOs plans as well as ensuring alignment across the breadth of planning activities that are ongoing across the two telescopes. In this talk I will describe the year in the life - which includes the development of subarray and substation templates, defining representative year-long telescope schedules and then analysing user support requirements, proposal loads, estimates of telescope availability (RFI, weather, maintenance), power usage, data rates, telescope mode, data product requests – and discuss how this work feeds back into our planning.
The Aperture Array Verification System, or AAVS, is a series of incremental proof-of-concept Square Kilometre Array (SKA) low-frequency stations. They have been deployed at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory, recognizing and acknowledging the Wajarri Yamaji as the Traditional Owners. With three iterations, AAVS has been a means to end-to-end test the proposed antennas and station layout of the SKA-Low telescope. The third iteration is the first to be deployed and operated by the SKA Observatory directly and was implemented as a way to investigate the performance of different antenna layouts within a station (randomized, Vogel and perturbed Vogel). SKAO Science Operations has embraced this opportunity to enable early engagement with the prototype to test and explore aspects of telescope operations, including scheduling and observing, as well as monitoring and processing the subsequent data (together with the System Science and Commissioning teams). In this paper we provide a description of the AAVS3 system, developments on site in Australia, the observations undertaken with AAVS3, and the learning and development for scientific operations that has been enabled by the AAVS system. There is also a forward look more broadly to science operations and verification, including the timeline and upcoming array assembly schedule.
The 64m Parkes Radio Telescope, known affectionately as `The Dish', is now approaching its 60th year of operation. It has receiver systems capable of observing from 700 MHz to 26 GHz with bandwidths up to 3 GHz. The Dish has continued to be at the forefront of radio astronomy and technology research, having had many improvements, including the 13-beam 1.4GHz multibeam receiver which enabled unprecedented surveys of atomic hydrogen in the Southern sky, and helped discover approximately half the known population of pulsars, as well as discovering Fast Radio Bursts. The Parkes Radio Telescope was recognised as a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Pathfinder in 2016, on the basis of Phased Array and Wideband Feed technology development. It also became part of the Breakthrough Listen project, with an initiation of paid telescope time operation, that now also includes time for dedicated follow-up of detections with the Five-hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope, FAST. I will present a summary of the current status of the capabilities of the Parkes Radio Telescope, how we are increasing efficiency through new SKA oriented technology, whilst still maintaining science yield. This includes an ultra-wide bandwidth low frequency receiver (700MHz4 GHz, replacing 4 previous receivers), now in national facility operation, a plan for a higher frequency ultra-wideband receiver (4GHz to _2532 GHz, replacing 5 previous receivers), and a cryogenically cooled Phased Array Feed under design (to replace the 13- beam receiver). I will also present our operational model, and how we balance competitive open access science time with purchased telescope time.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Parkes Radio Telescope, Australia, has been in operation since 1961. It is a 64-metre parabolic antenna, with receiver systems capable of observing from 700-MHz to 26 GHz with bandwidths up to 3 GHz, and it is part of the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF). Parkes has continued to be at the forefront of radio astronomy and technology research, having had many improvements, which enabled unprecedented surveys of atomic hydrogen in the Southern sky, and helped discover approximately half the known population of pulsars, as well as discovering Fast Radio Bursts. Parkes was recognised as a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Pathfinder in 2016, on the basis of Phased Array and Wideband Feed technology development. I will present a summary of the current status of the capabilities, and its science yield, in the context of the developments of SKA oriented technology. This includes the ultra-wideband low frequency receiver, a high frequency counterpart, and a cyrogenically cooled phased array feed.
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