A collection of multiple antenna elements that can be electronically steered and focused by controlling the timing (phase) of signals from each element. This allows rapid beam steering without physically moving the antennas, enabling simultaneous observations of multiple sky regions.
From 'phase' (Greek 'phasis' meaning appearance or stage) referring to the timing relationship between waves, and 'array' from Old French 'areer' (to arrange). Developed for military radar in the 1940s-50s, the term entered radio astronomy as astronomers adopted this technology for fast sky surveys and multi-beam observations.
A phased array is like having thousands of synchronized dancers - by perfectly timing when each antenna element receives signals, you can electronically 'point' the telescope anywhere in the sky in milliseconds! The Square Kilometre Array will use this technology to simultaneously observe hundreds of different cosmic objects, something impossible with traditional dish antennas.
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