MeerKAT+ Science Workshop
1-3 February 2023, Wits Rural Facility
Rationale
MeerKAT will be extended by at least 13 additional SKA dishes, each fitted with L- and S-band receivers in a project known as MeerKAT Extension (MeerKAT+). The optimized MeerKAT+ antenna configuration will enable high-fidelity imaging at twice MeerKAT’s angular resolution and with enhanced sensitivity. This expansion is funded by a partnership between the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (MPG), and the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF). This enhanced telescope sensitivity and angular resolution will be available for all subsequent observing programmes, including any ongoing Large Survey Projects as well as future Open Time and DDT proposals. Also, a reserved share of the available science observing time on MeerKAT will be allocated to the SARAO/MPG/INAF partnership, with the intent that it be used to generate a long-lasting MeerKAT+ Legacy Science Programme.
To prepare for MeerKAT+ science and data processing needs, a 3-day in-person workshop is planned that will cover the science opportunities and technical capabilities of MeerKAT+, as well as provide an opportunity for the project partners to plan for the MeerKAT+ Legacy Programme in more detail, following previous contributions to the MeerKAT+ Science White Paper.
Workshop details
Venue: Wits Rural Facility, a satellite campus of the University of the Witwatersrand bordering the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Travel information and suggestions can be found here.
Dates: 1-3 Feb 2023.
Duration: 2.5 day meeting starting at 15:00 (day 1) – 13:00 (day 3).
Accommodation: All participants will be accommodated on-site. All meals will be in the Wits Rural Facility Dining Room and evening braais on the viewing deck. Following your registration, you will be sent an invoice from the Wits Rural Facility. Prices will vary depending on your arrival/departure dates, but an indicative all-in cost (including accommodation, meals, tea/coffee, drinks, airport shuttles, and workshop registration) is ~R7200 per person for 4 nights.
SOC: Roger Deane, Hans-Rainer Klöckner, Fernando Camilo, Tiziana Venturi
LOC: Roger Deane, Graham Lawrie, Isaac Magolego, Farah-Naaz Moosa, Mika Naidoo
Contact: mkplus2023@gmail.com
To register, please complete this form below by 10 January 2023. Note that workshop attendance will be restricted to a maximum of 60 people, so please ensure you only complete this booking if you are certain you will attend. Unfortunately, there will be no online participation due to low bandwidth and severe, unpredictable load-shedding (power cuts) in South Africa at this time.
Registration
Programme
Presentation Upload
The current programme can be found here.
Presenters should upload their talks to the relevant session directory on this Google Drive in PDF, Keynote, or PPTX format the day before your talk to ensure we have a local copy ready.
The participants list can be viewed here.
Participants List
Travel Arrangements
Flights: There are several direct flight options to Hoedspruit via Airlink and CemAir from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Alternative airports that may suit those who will also visit the Kruger National Park or nearby private lodges are Phalaborwa and Skukuza (the latter is inside the Kruger National Park), both ~100 km away. Nelspruit Airport is further afield (~2 hour drive), but may suit some travellers.
Airport Shuttle booking: Wits Rural Facility will provide a shuttle to and from Hoedspruit Airport (~30 km). Once your flights are booked, please fill out this form to make a booking (deadline: 23 January 2023).
Car Rental: This is possible at Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa, and Skukuza airports and the dirt road to Wits Rural is passable by a standard small vehicle (with some slow driving).
Local sights: There are a number of day trips and activities on site and nearby if you wish to arrive early or stay on. A few examples are listed here.
Game drives: Bookings are possible for a number of game drives on the Wits Rural Facility property and in neighbouring farms. Email: minah.nkuna@wits.ac.za for more detail ahead of time, or visit reception on-site.
Indicative weather: See this link.
Malaria risk: Although there is a very low risk of malaria at Wits Rural, please read this important information.
Location
Additional documentation
1. MeerKAT+ Science Presentation: These are the slides presented at a webinar delivered by the SARAO Chief Scientist on 10 November 2022.
2. MeerKAT+ Science White Paper: Overview of MeerKAT+ and three proposed science legacy surveys. Note that the planned number of additional antennas has decreased since this submission.
3. MeerKAT+ Configuration Report: Note that the planned number of additional antennas has decreased since this extensive body of work was completed.