UK could lose SKA telescope headquarters

The directors of the project to build the world’s largest radio telescope have given the green light for the next stage in its planning, although the location of its headquarters in the UK may be in doubt.

The Square Kilometre Array’s directors have agreed on plans for the €650 million (£464m) first phase of the SKA, consisting of two complementary world-class instruments—one in Australia and one in South Africa. In this phase, South Africa will host about 200 parabolic antennas or dishes and Australia more than 100,000 antennas that resemble domestic TV aerials

But Italy has made a bid to host the project’s headquarters, taking it away from near Manchester in the UK. According to a news story in Nature, the directors have so far been unable to reach a decision on the location.