"Super Moon" this month!
The Moon will make its closest approach to the Earth (at perigee) for the year in May. It will happen early morning on Sunday 6th May at about 5:33 AM and at this time the Moon will be 357,000 km from the Earth. This will...[more]
Celebration of the McClean restoration
On Saturday the 24th March there was a special open night held at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) celebrating the recent renovation of the historic McClean telescope located in the observatory grounds. Dr Ian...[more]
Let us leap together today, February 29
Leap years occur almost every four years and were introduced in order to synchronise our calendar year with the seasonal or astronomical year. An astronomical year is approximately 365 and ΒΌ days long; this is the time it takes...[more]
UWC Awarded Joint Research Chair with SAAO & AIMS
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has been awarded a joint research chair with the SAAO and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). Read more here.[more]
Every Milky Way Star has a Planet!
An international team, including an astronomer from the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), has used the technique of gravitational microlensing to measure how common planets are in the Milky Way. After a six-year...[more]
Important astronomy data archive mirrored in Africa for the first time
The South African Virtual Observatory (SAVO) on behalf of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) is pleased to announce the release of the Smithsonian Astrophysical...[more]
Universe Awareness outreach programme hosted locally at South African Astronomical Observatory honoured with prestigious international award
The Universe Awareness (UNAWE) programme, with which the S.A. Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is intimately involved, has been honoured with the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) award. Science Magazine ...[more]
Astronomers in South Africa find evidence for a strange new planetary system
Drs. Stephen Potter and Encarni Romero-Colmenero from the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and collaborators have found evidence for the existence of an extraordinary planetary system where two giant planets...[more]
Astronomy can make the world a better place
South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) would like to salute and commend Mr. Kevin Govender, the Director of the new Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) for winning the prestigious National Science and Technology...[more]
The moon to darken its face on the 15th of June
A total lunar eclipse will be visible from South Africa on the 15th of June 2011. The last total lunar eclipse visible from this region was in February 2008 and the next one will only be in September 2015. A lunar eclipse occurs...[more]
Last updated: 26 May 2011
