The International Astronomical Union (IAU) congratulates the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory on the signing of the international SKA convention. This convention formally establishes the SKA Observatory, which is an international collaboration working towards building the world’s largest radio telescope. The IAU strongly supports and promotes global cooperation on large facilities such as this, which are necessary to realise increasingly ambitious astronomical projects. The SKA will grant astronomers worldwide new opportunities to unravel the mysteries of the Universe, and will also drive innovative solutions to big data challenges, which will benefit society at large.

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The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 13 500 professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Links

• SKA press release

Contacts

Maria Teresa Lago
General Secretary
Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58
Email: IAU_GS_2018@iap.fr