Next-Generation Sensitive Radio Telescope Array to Launch in Nevada Desert

A remote region in the Nevada desert within the Great Basin is set to host the world’s most advanced radio telescope array.

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The California Institute of Technology is spearheading the project and announced its intention to initiate construction of the telescope after securing adequate funding. This project, known as the Deep Synoptic Array, consists of 1,650 individual radio antennas that will collectively study supermassive black holes, pulsars, and fast radio bursts — brief, powerful emissions of radio waves that often originate in deep space.

Greg Hallinan, an astronomy professor at Caltech and the principal investigator for the Deep Synoptic Array, commented, “The vast number of antennas distinguishes this telescope from any existing ones.”

Radio telescopes capture naturally occurring radio waves emitted by various celestial bodies, enabling astronomers to analyze these signals for insights into their structure, composition, and temperature.

While radio telescopes do not capture images like optical observatories, they can convert radio signals into data for imaging.

Hallinan stated that the Deep Synoptic Array will surpass all previous ground-based radio telescopes in performance, observing the sky 100 times faster while producing exceptionally high-quality radio images.

Regarding radio-emitting cosmic objects, he remarked, “Collectively, all telescopes built over the last century have identified approximately 20 million radio sources in the universe. This telescope will double that in just the first 24 hours.”

Each dish in this project is designed to measure about 20 feet in diameter. Together, they will form one of the largest radio telescope arrays ever constructed, covering over 123 square miles managed by the Bureau of Land Management in White Pine County, Nevada.

Hallinan indicated that the project is currently in the permitting phase, aiming to start construction next year and complete it by 2029.

For ground-based radio astronomy, two types of telescopes are commonly utilized: the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, which boasts a diameter of 328 feet, and the extensive array of small dishes like the Very Large Array in New Mexico, featuring 27 dishes arranged in a Y-shape.

Single-dish telescopes are generally more sensitive and capable of detecting faint radio waves from deep space, while large arrays of multiple dishes tend to yield clearer images. Hallinan noted that deep synoptic arrays have the potential to achieve both.

The Deep Synoptic Array is engineered to detect radio emissions from millions of stars, galaxies, and additional celestial entities emitting radio light.

“Radio astronomy is transforming from sketches to high-resolution imagery,” said Vikram Ravi, Caltech astronomy professor and co-principal investigator of the Deep Synoptic Array, as stated in a recent announcement. “The DSA will scan a significantly larger celestial area more frequently than any other telescope.”

Researchers plan to utilize the array for at least five sky surveys, seeking captivating radio emission pulses for additional study.

“We will pinpoint the exact location of any detected radio source, enabling optical, infrared, and X-ray observatories to target that area for further exploration,” Hallinan explained.

Funding for the initiative has been provided by Schmidt Science, a philanthropic organization established by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy. Schmidt has also recently taken the helm at rocket company Relativity Space, which secured a key NASA contract this week to deliver scientific instruments to Mars in 2028.

As a preliminary step, two prototype plates were recently constructed near Bishop, California, serving as technology demonstrations, according to Hallinan.

To identify a suitable location for the Deep Synoptic Array, Hallinan and his team evaluated sites throughout the western United States, including California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. An ideal setting would be remote, minimizing interference from radio frequencies generated by devices like cell phones and Wi-Fi.

“This telescope is so sensitive that it can detect cell phones from the distance of the Sun,” Hallinan remarked.

The Great Basin in Nevada serves as a natural barrier against unwanted interference.

“The quiet valleys here have minimal population,” he added. “This site in White Pine County is the quietest location we evaluated, making it exceptionally suitable for radio astronomy.”