Astronomy in South Africa

Extract

This note reviews those aspects of astronomy in South Africa that may be useful for the support of astronomical development on the rest of the African continent.

Optical and infrared astronomy is largely consolidated at the Sutherland site of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), about 300 km from Cape Town. The administrative and technical headquarters of this institution occupy the buildings of the old Royal Observatory (founded in 1820) in Cape Town. In Cape Town there is a twin 18/24 inch (0.45/0.6m) refractor and an 18-inch (0.45m) photometric reflector still operational. At Sutherland the 74-inch (1.8m Radcliffe) reflector is equipped for spectroscopy, CCD imaging and IR photometry. Newtonian and coudé foci are available but rarely used. Also at Sutherland there are 40-inch, 30-inch and 20-inch telescopes (approx. 1m, 0.75m and 0.5m) used primarily for CCD imaging (40-inch), optical and infrared photometry (30-inch) and UVBRI standard photometry (20-inch). An automatic photoelectric telescope (30-inch aperture) is nearing completion. Observing conditions at Sutherland provide about 50% photometric time.