# Superpowered Radio Telescopes The 'SKA' Has Revealed Over 1,200 Previously Undiscovered Galaxies By Joey Haar | Published 2016-07-19 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/radio-telescope References: [digitaltrends](http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/super-telescope-meerkat-ska/) & [skatelescope.org](https://www.skatelescope.org/) The Square Kilometer Array, or SKA, is an incredibly powerful radio telescope cluster spanning from South Africa to Australia. Though not yet fully constructed, a currently operational portion of the SKA, called MeerKAT, has returned an image of space with over 1,300 galaxies in a portion of the sky where only 70 galaxies were thought to exist. Even though MeerKAT only represents approximately one quarter of the complete SKA, the [galactic discoveries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spacebased-intelligence) it has given scientists make it undoubtedly the most powerful radio telescope in the southern hemisphere today. The image it produced, entitled 'First Light,' captures just 0.01 percent of the sky; upon completion, SKA's scientists expect the radio telescope to be 10,000 times more powerful, meaning it could potentially uncover the complete celestial sphere. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Superpowered Radio Telescopes:** The advancements in radio telescope technology allow for the discovery of previously unknown galaxies. - **Expansion of Sky Observation:** The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) opens up new opportunities for astronomers to study and understand the vastness of the universe. - **Increased Sensitivity in Radio Astronomy:** The SKA's enhanced sensitivity enables the detection of faint celestial objects and phenomena, pushing the boundaries of radio astronomy. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Astronomy:** The SKA revolutionizes astronomical research, providing valuable insights into the universe and its composition. - **Telecommunications:** The advancements in radio telescope technology can be leveraged for improved satellite communications and deep space exploration. - **Data Analysis and Processing:** The vast amount of data generated by the SKA calls for innovative data analysis and processing solutions to extract meaningful insights. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [4K Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/4k-smart-telescopes.md) - [Advanced Telescope Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/advanced-telescope-design.md) - [App-Controlled Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/evscope-equinox-2.md) - [AI-Powered Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/finder-tw2.md) - [Intelligent 4K Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seestar-s30-pro.md) - [Automated Algorithm-Powered Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-space-telescope.md) - [Dark Matter Maps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dark-matter-map.md) - [Smart Personal Observatory Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vaonis-hyperia.md) - [Crystal-Clear Smart Telescopes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smart-telescopes.md)