KAT-7 seen as design highlight

The KAT-7 precursor array consisting of seven antennas has been constructed and is being used as an engineering and science prototype

Cape Town was selected as the World Design Capital for 2014. This image by Maik Wolleben of the KAT-7 Antennae was profiled as part of the MAKE IT NEW exhibition that formed part of the flagship World Design Capital Cape Town 2014 project, Makers and Thinkers.

The exhibit captured how traces of South Africa's indigenous past and global connections have shaped innovation and transformation. The exhibit ended at the end of November 2014.

KAT and MeerKAT

The South African MeerKAT radio telescope, currently being built some 90 km outside the small Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope and will be integrated into the mid-frequency component of SKA Phase 1. The SKA project is an international enterprise to build the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the world, and will be located in Africa and Australia.

MeerKAT will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere until the Square Kilometre Array is completed around 2024.

The telescope was originally known as the Karoo Array Telescope (KAT) that would consist of 20 receptors. When the South African government increased the budget to allow the building of 64 receptors, the team re-named it "MeerKAT" – i.e. "more of KAT". The Meerkat (scientific name Suricata suricatta) is also a much beloved small mammal that lives in the Karoo region.

For more information on the World Design Capital Cape Town 2014, visit www.wdccapetown2014.com.