When science fiction turns to reality: Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the largest radio telescope ever imagined'

Abstract

The world's scientific community is building the largest radio telescope ever imagined, with a total collection area of one square kilometre, i.e. a million square meters. This represents a huge technological advance, massive investment, and even greater opportunities. The radio astronomers will be able to monitor the sky with unprecedented detail, sensitivity and speed, aiming to answer several fundamental questions, and creating a wide range of new technological solutions. The magnitude of this project also implies an immensely challenging task: establishing the bridges between society, political and scientific communities. SKA outreach requires the creation of innovative dissemination materials that portrait the instrument from very different perspectives, highlighting its importance to the multiple targets that its technologies address spills to. In this work we explore how concepts are exploited, creating an inspiring sci-fi vision, mostly resorting of video and 3D animations.