Quote:
Originally Posted by clive milne
If they built another 4 (and joined all 5 together) they would have a telescope with approximately the same collecting area as the SKA
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true - although the individual dishes used in the SKA are not very large.
less than 20m in diameter I believe.
Composite dish networks do have that advantage. In fact similar set ups are constructed with mirrors. The spaces/gaps between the collectors can be compensated for.
In this case, the Chinese have chosen what looks like a small valley to construct the dish - similar set up to the dish in Peurto Rico. the earth's rotation is used to direct the dish.
I suppose one could space out half a dozen 12m dishes and claim a 100 sq km array. Not sure how well it will work though