Figure 1: Major centres of activity in space science in South Africa.
South African Astronomical Observatory, P.O. Box 9, Observatory 7935, South Africa
Within the context of the UN/ESA Workshops on Basic Space Science the term `Basic Space Science' is defined to encompass (a) astronomy and astrophysics, (b) solar-terrestrial interaction and its influence on terrestrial climate, (c) planetary and atmospheric studies, and (d) the origin of life and exobiology. This review of space science in South Africa shows that the country is active in a number of these areas. The area of space science most strongly represented in South Africa is astronomy and astrophysics. The development of modern astronomy in South Africa was driven by the need for accurate star positions and time for navigation purposes. Although a number of temporary observatories were established at the Cape of Good Hope since 1685 it was only in 1820 that the first permanent observatory was established by the British Admiralty. This Observatory, which was originally called the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope, and is now called the South African Astronomical Observatory, celebrates its 176th anniversary this year, making it the oldest continuously operational modern observatory in Africa. This survey provides an overview of the main centres of activity in space science in South Africa.
The Foundation for Research Development, South Africa's national science funding agency, operates a number of research facilities among which are the national optical/infrared and radio observatories. The national facilities develop instrumentation and employ their own research staff. Access to the national facilities is open to all South African and foreign researchers subject to the usual international criteria of peer review.
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) has its headquarters in Cape Town and a field station at Sutherland (height 1759 m) in the Karoo (Fig. 2). The telescopes at Sutherland are all reflectors with mirrors of 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.9-m diameter. The 1.9-m reflector at Sutherland is identical to the 1.9-m telescope at Kottamia Observatory in Egypt, both having been constructed contemporaneously by the same firm. The available instrumentation allows spectroscopy, optical and near infrared photometry, polarimetry and optical/infrared CCD imaging. The Sutherland site also hosts a station of the Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network, which studies the global 5-minute acoustic pulsations of the Sun.
The Observatory has an active program of instrumentation development. This work is carried out in the SAAO's mechanical and electronic workshops in Cape Town. Current projects include the construction of a high-resolution fiber-fed Echelle spectrograph, the commissioning of a new infrared array camera and the construction of a robotic photoelectric telescope.
The SAAO's work is representative of much of modern astrophysics, with activity the areas of solar system studies, solar physics, stellar astrophysics, Galactic structure, Magellanic Cloud studies, and extragalactic astronomy. Much of the work is done in collaboration with astronomers from over 20 countries.
The national facility for radio astronomy is situated at Hartebeesthoek in a secluded valley about 65 km northwest of Johannesburg. The Hartebeesthoek Radio Observatory (HartRAO) has a single 26-m dish (Fig. 3) capable of operation in the 2.5, 3.6, 4.5/5, 6, 13 and 18 cm bands. The telescope is used for observations of radio emissions from interstellar and circumstellar molecular clouds, pulsars, x-ray sources, quasars and active galaxies. HartRAO is also a frequent participant in international astronomical VLBI and geodesy campaigns. The observatory offers a short practical course in radio astronomy to physics students from various universities.
A number of South African universities offer degree courses in different areas of space science. To promote the development of astronomical research in South African universities, the national facilities have introduced a new programme whereby students may pursue research degrees under expert supervision at the national facilities while being registered at their own universities. These students are expected to spend a fraction of their time at their home institutions to promote the transfer of skills.
The University of Cape Town has a very active Astronomy Department with three tenured Professors, two Research Fellows, and half a dozen post-graduate students. The Department offers BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in astronomy. The Department's research focuses on a variety of variable star problems and studies of the large scale structure of the universe. The Applied Mathematics Department at this University also has an active theoretical cosmology group.
The Space Physics Research Unit at the University of Natal in Durban is active in the fields of space physics, radio propagation studies, auroral physics, magnetospheric physics and atmospheric physics. Much of the auroral and magnetospheric work is conducted at the South African national base in Antarctica. The Space Research Institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in the disciplines in which it is active.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at University of the Orange Free State in Bloemfontein offers a number of undergraduate courses in astronomy as part of the Physics BSc. At present the Department does not offer astronomy training at the postgraduate level, nor is it active in astronomical research. The Department is in charge of Boyden Observatory which hosts a number of telescopes, viz. the 1.5-m and 0.4-m reflectors and a 0.33-m refractor. The 1.5-m Rockefeller reflector is the third-largest telescope on the continent and is currently unused. However, the possibility of refurbishing this telescope to study gravitational microlensing events as part of an international collaboration is currently under consideration. Should this materialize the astronomy program at the University of the Orange Free State will expand rapidly.
A small group in Department of Physics and Electronics at Rhodes University in Grahamstown is active in radio astronomy. One of their major long-term projects has been a 2.3 GHz all-sky survey, conducted using the HartRAO telescope and calibrated with a small portable horn telescope which they constructed themselves. The areas of astrophysical application of this survey are in studies of galactic supernova remnants, star forming regions, galactic cosmic rays and synchrotron emission, and the cosmic microwave background. The Rhodes radio astronomers also work in a variety of collaborative programmes with the staff of HartRAO as well as undertaking joint instrumentation development projects. The department offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in radio astronomy.
The Space Research Unit at Potchefstroom University offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in astrophysics. The Department's focus is on observational gamma ray astronomy using its telescope at Nooitgedacht, south of Potchefstroom. The telescope comprises 12 reflectors with a total collecting area of 21 m2 which detect Cherenkov light using coincidence techniques. The telescope is used to study the high-energy phenomena in cataclysmic variables, x-ray binaries, radio pulsars and supernova remnants.
South Africa's first indigenously constructed satellite, SUNSAT, is being built by staff and students of the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. The microsatellite will be used for Earth resources imaging and data relay experiments. Although the satellite is modest in its capabilities the real goal of this project is to introduce satellite engineering and operation skills into South African academia. SUNSAT is due to be launched by NASA in August 1997 on a Delta II rocket, along with another satellite.
The preceding list of South African universities offering some form of education in space is by no means exhaustive. The University of South Africa offers a variety of undergraduate astronomy courses by correspondence. The University has a 0.35-m telescope equipped with a photometer, spectrograph and CCD camera for laboratory exercises on the roof of the Physics building at its Pretoria campus. The Universities of the Witwatersrand, the Western Cape and Zululand, and the Rand Afrikaans University all offer some undergraduate tuition in astronomy or cosmology. Postgraduate students at these universities receive their practical training at one of the national facilities.
The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa is an organization comprising both professional and amateur astronomers. The society is represented in the major population centres of the country and publishes a journal called the Monthly Notices of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. There are also a small number of local amateur astronomical societies spread throughout the country. South African amateurs range from causal star gazers to remarkably talented and dedicated individuals who contribute thousands of valuable variable star observations per year.
There are planetaria in Cape Town and Johannesburg. The Cape Town planetarium, which is part of the South African Museum, has a Minolta 4 star projector and seating for 120 persons. The Johannesburg planetarium, which is on the campus of Witwatersrand University, has a Zeiss projector and seating for 400 persons. Both planetaria offer a variety of public shows and popular astronomy courses. Attempts are under way to establish a small planetarium in Bloemfontein also.
The national facilities are committing significant resources to improving science awareness at all levels. Both the SAAO and HartRAO have full-time Public Relations and Education officers who liaise with education authorities and the media. The SAAO and HartRAO are both developing Education Resource Centres, in which it is planned to hold workshops for practising science teachers and to receive groups of school children for science enrichment. The Universities of Cape Town and South Africa also offer popular adult education courses in astronomy from time to time.
Acknowledgements
I thank Mr Patrick Woudt for assistance with the figures.
