The future of radio astronomy in an increasingly crowded spectrum - Present and expected science in radio continuum astrophysics

Abstract

The radio astronomy landscape is expecting a massive shift in telescope sensitivity in the next two decades with the development of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) and Next-Generation Very Large Array broadband interferometers. The sensitivity of these arrays is expected to allow astronomers to study aspects of the faint universe for the first time. However, the radio spectrum is becoming increasingly crowded with ground- and satellite-based signals which are several orders of magnitude stronger than the astrophysical signals of interest. Here we briefly discuss some of the continuum radio science currently being done with SKAO pathfinder or precursor instruments which may be impacted in the future by man-made radio frequency interference. © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The International Astronomical Union.