Scientists welcome giant telescope decision

Scientists in Australia and New Zealand have welcomed a decision to locate the world's biggest and most advanced radio telescope in their countries.

The telescope array, capable of detecting signs of extraterrestrial life in the far reaches of the universe, will also be partly located in South Africa.

Australia's Science and Research Minister said the decision will affect his country for years to come.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH MINISTER SENATOR CHRIS EVANS:

"For the next fifty years Australia will be at the forefront of science in the world."

In New Zealand the director of radio and astronomy at the Auckland university of technology said he hoped the telescope would lead to great discoveries.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF RADIO AND ASTRONOMY AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSOR SERGEI GULYAEV:

"We expect revolutions similar to what we had four hundred years ago with Galileo"

When completed in 2024 the telescope will be made up of 3,000 dishes.

It will be able to scan the sky with 50 times the sensitivity of any other telescope and see 10 times further into the universe.

Simon Hanna, Reuters.