NRF|SAAO Cape Town Open Night

Join us for Open Nights at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, held on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.

Each evening begins with an engaging presentation on astronomy or a related field of science, followed by a guided tour of the Observatory’s rich history—including our library, museum, and the historic 120-year-old McClean Telescope.

Weather permitting, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy stargazing through the McClean and additional smaller telescopes.

• • Gates open at 7:30 PM.
  • Free entry for children aged 6 and under.

Please email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.

Title: From the cosmic dawn to a better world

Abstract:
From the first light of the Universe to the challenges of our modern world, astronomy continues to shape how we understand ourselves and our place in the Universe. My research explores the cosmic dawn, the era when the first stars and galaxies lit up the Universe. Using a technique called the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect at 21 cm (SZE-21cm), we simulate how galaxy clusters can serve as probes into this early period, helping us study the Dark Ages and the Epoch of Reionisation with next-generation radio telescopes such as HERA and the SKA.

At the global level, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the leading organisation for professional astronomers, representing thousands of scientists from around the world and coordinating international collaboration in research, education, and outreach. Through its Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), the IAU also ensures that astronomy benefits society more broadly. The OAD works with partners across continents to harness astronomy as a tool for sustainable development, with initiatives ranging from astrotourism for economic growth to astronomy for mental health to applying astronomical data skills to challenges here on Earth.

This talk connects the Universe’s beginnings with ways astronomy can drive positive change, showing how knowledge of the universe can guide a path toward a better world.

Dr Charles Mpho Takalana is Deputy Director of the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU-OAD), a joint project of the IAU and South Africa’s National Research Foundation. He holds a PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics from the University of the Witwatersrand, where his research focused on probing the early Universe through the low-frequency radio cosmological background. He previously worked at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory on astronomy policy for the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), was the founding Head of Secretariat of the African Astronomical Society, and Vice Chair of the organising committee for the IAU General Assembly 2024 in Cape Town. Charles is passionate about using astronomy to inspire and empower communities, especially young people.