Its prime function is to conduct fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics by providing a world-class facility and by promoting astronomy and astrophysics in Southern Africa. SAAO headquarters are in the suburb of Observatory in Cape Town. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observing station near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4 hour drive from Cape Town.

Visiting SAAO (Cape Town)

Members of the public are welcome to visit the SAAO in Cape Town on the second Saturday of every month at 20:00. The gates will be open and visitors should gather by the pillars in front of the main building after parking nearby.

After a brief introduction, the tour will introduce visitors to the work of an astronomer today (mostly with computers), show some of the curious instruments and devices of yesteryear, and (if the weather is clear) give everyone a chance to look at something in the sky through one of the telescopes. If the Cape Town skies are cloudy that night, a slide show will give an introduction to the Universe in one easy session.

SALT

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, with a hexagonal mirror array 11 metres across. Although very similar to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) in Texas, SALT has a redesigned optical system using more of the mirror array. It will be able to record distant stars, galaxies and quasars a billion times too faint to be seen with the unaided eye - as faint as a candle flame at the distance of the moon.

Visit South African Astronomical Oberservatory on the web at http://www.saao.ac.za/

Contact South African Astronomical Oberservatory

021 447 0025

Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town

PO Box 9, Observatory, 7935