Australia launches telescope bid

Australia is in a bidding competition with southern Africa to be the site of the world's most powerful telescope facility.

An international committee is expected to decide between the two next month.

There is apparent momentum behind the African bid, but Australia is not giving up, citing its political stability and wide area of radio silence as reasons for it to win.

There are great costs but also great benefits involved in hosting the project, including extra funding for scientists, as well as the right to claim to be the world's centre for astronomy.

Al Jazeera's Andrew Thomas reports from Murchison in western Australia.