Newsletter

Welcome to our newsletter on all things about our observatory on Wajarri Country.

It’s geared towards our neighbours in the Murchison and those with an interest in day-to-day activities at the observatory.

Current issue

Ngarlbugala 2024

Another busy year at the observatory contained within our summer edition of The News for 2024. Join us for updates on infrastructure improvements for the Murchison as well as another fantastic year partnering with Wajarri Yamaji. Also read about incredible progress for the SKA-Low telescope and some exciting science from ASKAP and the MWA. Happy new year from everyone on the team.

Read the latest edition of The News

Past issues

A child stands in front of a table with their back to the viewer, looking up towards a pin board covered in black paper with colourful drawings of aliens, planets, stars, rockets and ideas for what the SKA telescopes will find.

Ngarlbugala 2023

Reflecting on a busy 2023 end of year in our summer edition of The News as we consider all the activity on site this year – not least of which was the start of SKA-Low telescope construction. This edition read about the latest construction progress, more science with ASKAP, new international partners for MWA and more. Happy New Year and a barndi Grijimiji (happy Christmas) from the team.

A woman speaks into a microphone to a crown of people in hi vis.

Spring 2023

Join us for all the Spring news from across the observatory, including an update on the SKAO Council visit to Western Australia bringing representatives from around the globe, the latest on SKA-Low construction progressing at pace and news from the telescopes on site. We also feature some beautiful Wajarri artworks across many of the updates and a warm welcome to new Site Entity team members.

Man stands in front of an audience gesturing.

Jandangga 2023

In this wintery edition, read about some stellar research from our resident telescopes, events to celebrate dark and quiet skies, how supercomputers are helping unravel climate change, deployment of some SKA-Low antennas and more. We also welcome some new team members and wish others well on their new adventures.

Autumn 2023

There has been a lot of rain over the past month. Hopefully the clouds will lift for the eagerly anticipated solar eclipse – details of which feature in this season’s newsletter. We also introduce some new faces, new science, new telescope configurations and a celebration of science education. It has been quite the start to the year!

Summer 2022

It’s getting hotter in the Murchison as we bring you the news from a very busy period, and share our holiday greetings. This issue has details from the celebrations of our new Indigenous Land Use Agreement and the SKA-Low construction commencement ceremony, as well as some Christmas cheer (tracking rudolf’s nose!)

Growing out of the red dirt, by the side of a road, is a plethora of unusual flowers.

Spring 2022

Recent rains have kept the wildflowers in bloom, a welcome sight despite the disruption the rains have brought. This edition of MRO News has more details on the Pia Wadjarri students’ visit to Perth with time spent at CSIRO, MWA and Pawsey; reaching the next milestone for ASKAP; and welcoming a host of new staff to the SKA-Low team in Geraldton.

Winter 2022

Wildflowers are blooming, just in time for our Winter MRO News. This issue we have plenty to share with updates on new science images from ASKAP (created using Pawsey’s latest supercomputer, Setonix), lightning (Birli in Wajarri) striking for the MWA and an SKAO Diamond meeting Pawsey’s diamond quantum computer.

Autumn 2022

Welcome to the first edition of MRO News for 2022, with a brand-new look, leading to our brand-new website. Along with a host of news from across the MRO we also say hello to two new sections in this issue, meet the AusSRC and welcome Pawsey as a regular contributor to MRO News. We hope you like the new style!

Rebecca Wheadon and George Simpson (SKA-Low Deputy Telescope Director) in front of SKA signage.

Summer 2021

In this issue we wish you a Merry Christmas and welcome Murchison local Andrew Whitmarsh to our team. Aidan shares a mysterious object spotted by ASKAP, and Mia tells us of the unconvential meeting locations MWA team member Andy has been dialling in from lately. Also see the first photo of the Murchison settlement’s newest Christmas tree delivered by the team.

three people smiling in front of tall cabinets full of neatly arranged computing equipment. The centre woman is taking the photo and has her arm out pointing towards the equipment.

Spring 2021

Spring has sprung at the MRO! Aidan tells us dancing ghosts have been revealed by ASKAP and Mia shares a selfie with the MWA’s newly installed brain (see above). Also in this issue we welcome project manager Jane and communicator Kirsten to our team. We finish off with some wildflowers we’ve seen around the MRO recently, do you have a favourite from the region?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Pawsey Executive Director Mark Stickells surrounded by Pawsey supercomputers

Winter 2021

The rains are here, and the Murchison is looking greener. In this issue we have a special guest update from Mark Stickells at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre (that’s him above with the Prime Minister) and Aidan tells us ASKAP’s RACs survey is complete, with some amazing views of the sky to see. Watch out for the double rainbow celebrating over ASKAP.

Astronomical sky, with radio telescope dishes standing on red earth

Autumn 2021

In this issue we farewell Kevin Ferguson to new adventures within CSIRO, and welcome Sim to the team. Inside are bumper infrastructure updates and Mia shares the discovery of pulsars by the SKA prototype stations. Aidan also shares a new tool where you can explore ASKAP’s view of the night sky.