Scientists in Australia and New Zealand have welcomed a decision to locate the world's biggest and most advanced radio telescope in their countries.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />Australia's Science and Research Minister said the decision will affect his country for years to come.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH MINISTER SENATOR CHRIS EVANS:<br/> <br />"For the next fifty years Australia will be at the forefront of science in the world."<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF RADIO AND ASTRONOMY AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, PROFESSOR SERGEI GULYAEV:<br/> <br />"We expect revolutions similar to what we had four hundred years ago with Galileo"<br/> <br />When completed in 2024 the telescope will be made up of 3,000 dishes.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />Simon Hanna, Reuters.
