Observations of the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization with the SKAO: Observational Lessons Learned from Precursors and Pathfinder Instruments

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the observational lessons learned after two decades of observations of the Cosmic Dawn (CD) and Epoch of Reionization (EoR) with SKAO pathfinders and precursors. We will describe the effort towards building accurate simulation pipelines for actual observations and summarize the approaches that different groups have taken to calibrate and mitigate systematic effects such as sky model incompleteness, limited instrument models and antenna mutual coupling. We conclude by discussing the impact that these lessons may have on the design and analysis of upcoming SKAO observations of the Cosmic Dawn and Epoch of Reionization.

Published in Advancing Astrophysics with the SKAII (AASKAII), 2026(arXiv:2606.20366).Report-no:AASKAII/deLeraAcedo01. Advancing Astrophysics with the SKAII (AASKAII) outlines the transformative scientific advances that will be enabled by the SKA telescopes