SKAO publishes 2024 Annual Report

The report can be read and downloaded on Issuu here.

The publication chronicles many major developments that took place in 2024, the Observatory growing with three new member states, the installation of the first SKA-Low antennas in Australia in March and the assembly of the first SKA-Mid dish in South Africa in July. The Observatory also celebrated the “first fringes” from SKA-Low when the signal from two antennas stations was combined for the first time.

“Thanks to the dedication and expertise of its global team, the Observatory continues to advance on all fronts,” said Dr Filippo Zerbi who was appointed as Chair of the SKAO Council in November 2024.

“Important infrastructure milestones have been achieved, antennas are being deployed, and work continues at pace at both telescope sites, placing us at the cusp of first observations.”

In August, all eyes were on Cape Town where the International Astronomical Union organised its General Assembly, the first edition on the African continent. The SKAO was well represented with a striking stand and the launch of Cosmic Echoes, an Indigenous astronomy art exhibition.  The meeting also formed the perfect backdrop for the SKAO to strengthen relations with African partners, signing memoranda of understanding with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory and the African Astronomical Society.

Preparations for the operational phase of the telescopes continued across the board: with more than 500 attendees at each of the quarterly Programme Increment meetings, the launch of another SKAO Science Data Challenge and a simulation of the operational planning of the SKA telescopes.

The SKAO also kept growing with three new countries joining – Canada, India and Germany – and 45 new staff recruited across the three host countries, including through  the SKAO’s collaboration partners SARAO and CSIRO.  

SKAO Director-General Prof. Philip Diamond said: “Reflecting on this year’s accomplishments, I continue to be inspired by the unwavering commitment of our teams and the continued support of our members. This Annual Report captures the progress we have made in 2024 and offers a glimpse into the extraordinary possibilities that lie ahead.”  

If you can't access the Issuu platform, you can download the annual report PDF here.