Today's Colloquium: Science with the Murchison Widefield Array

© Lister Staveley-Smith

Abstract: The Murchison Widefield Array is the first operational SKA precursor telescope, having begun operations in August 2013. I will summarise the science goals of the telescope, concentrating on the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky MWA (GLEAM) survey that is presently underway. GLEAM will provide a view of the southern sky that overlaps with LOFAR MSSS in frequency range, resolution and sky coverage. Major science goals include clusters, the cosmic web, relic radio galaxies, diffuse Galactic polarised emission, the Magellanic Clouds and nearby galaxies and Supernova Remnants. The ongoing execution of the GLEAM survey allows an interesting glimpse into the algorithmic and and dataflow challenges that await us when other sensitive widefield instruments such as Phase 1 of the SKA come on-line.