Exploring the universe under Namibian skies

Professor Rob Fender is currently heading the Astrophysics sub-department at the University of Oxford. He has been awarded a prestigious €14m ERC Synergy Grant, 'Blackholistic', alongside colleagues Sera Markoff and Heino Falcke.

This grant aims to deepen the understanding of black holes across all mass scales and involves the construction of the African Millimetre Telescope (AMT) in Namibia. The telescope will significantly expand the baseline coverage of the Event Horizon Telescope while serving as a standalone transient monitoring facility, marking a major advancement in astrophysical research.

During his visit, Fender visited possible sites where the telescope could be placed, either at the Gamsberg or next to the HESS site.

“This provided me with invaluable insights into the landscape and potential telescope locations,” he said.

While this project has been coming along for the last two years, Fender said they have a focus on finalising the telescope's design and selecting an optimal site, aiming to achieve "first light" within three to four years, marking a significant milestone in astronomical research. “Looking at the global impact this project has, we are working on a tight schedule,” he said, noting that other projects of this magnitude can take anything between 20 and 25 years.

Discussing the AMT project's potential impact on Namibia, Fender underscored its role in fostering scientific literacy and expertise within the country. “Drawing parallels with similar initiatives in South Africa, we aim to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, thereby catalyzing broader participation in scientific endeavours.”

The AMT project aims to establish the first millimetre-wave radio telescope on African soil. This telescope is set to expand the Event Horizon Telescope network, famous for capturing the groundbreaking image of a black hole in 2019.