BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//SAAO - ECPv5.2.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:SAAO
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.saao.ac.za
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for SAAO
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:SAST
DTSTART:20260101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260714T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260714T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260630T111323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T111323Z
UID:25937-1784059200-1784066400@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Private Night tour & Star gazing
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO invites you for a Night tour & star gazing \n\n\nOur night tours begin at the Visitor Center\, where guests are introduced to the rich history of Astronomy in our country. The tour includes a visit to our main building\, one of Cape Town’s oldest formal structures\, as well as our Museum. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the McClean Telescope\, a highlight of the tour. Weather permitting\, the experience culminates with an unforgettable stargazing session using both the McClean and Dobsonian telescopes. \n\nPlease note that vehicles will only be allowed on site from 19:30. \n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-private-night-tour-star-gazing-98/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260716T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260716T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260630T111424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T111424Z
UID:25939-1784232000-1784239200@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Private Night tour & Star gazing
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO invites you for a Night tour & star gazing \n\n\nOur night tours begin at the Visitor Center\, where guests are introduced to the rich history of Astronomy in our country. The tour includes a visit to our main building\, one of Cape Town’s oldest formal structures\, as well as our Museum. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the McClean Telescope\, a highlight of the tour. Weather permitting\, the experience culminates with an unforgettable stargazing session using both the McClean and Dobsonian telescopes. \n\nPlease note that vehicles will only be allowed on site from 19:30. \n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-private-night-tour-star-gazing-99/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260718T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260718T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260707T101517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T101517Z
UID:25977-1784404800-1784412000@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Private Night tour & Star gazing
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO invites you for a Night tour & star gazing \n\n\nOur night tours begin at the Visitor Center\, where guests are introduced to the rich history of Astronomy in our country. The tour includes a visit to our main building\, one of Cape Town’s oldest formal structures\, as well as our Museum. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the McClean Telescope\, a highlight of the tour. Weather permitting\, the experience culminates with an unforgettable stargazing session using both the McClean and Dobsonian telescopes. \n\nPlease note that vehicles will only be allowed on site from 19:30. \n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-private-night-tour-star-gazing-103/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260721T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260721T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260630T111514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T111514Z
UID:25941-1784664000-1784671200@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Private Night tour & Star gazing
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO invites you for a Night tour & star gazing \n\n\nOur night tours begin at the Visitor Center\, where guests are introduced to the rich history of Astronomy in our country. The tour includes a visit to our main building\, one of Cape Town’s oldest formal structures\, as well as our Museum. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the McClean Telescope\, a highlight of the tour. Weather permitting\, the experience culminates with an unforgettable stargazing session using both the McClean and Dobsonian telescopes. \n\nPlease note that vehicles will only be allowed on site from 19:30. \n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-private-night-tour-star-gazing-100/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260723T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260723T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260630T111601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T111601Z
UID:25943-1784836800-1784844000@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Private Night tour & Star gazing
DESCRIPTION:The NRF|SAAO invites you for a Night tour & star gazing \n\n\nOur night tours begin at the Visitor Center\, where guests are introduced to the rich history of Astronomy in our country. The tour includes a visit to our main building\, one of Cape Town’s oldest formal structures\, as well as our Museum. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the McClean Telescope\, a highlight of the tour. Weather permitting\, the experience culminates with an unforgettable stargazing session using both the McClean and Dobsonian telescopes. \n\nPlease note that vehicles will only be allowed on site from 19:30. \n\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-private-night-tour-star-gazing-101/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260725T200000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260725T220000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260630T080142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260713T123043Z
UID:25935-1785009600-1785016800@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:NRF|SAAO Cape Town Open Night
DESCRIPTION:Join us for Open Nights at the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF/SAAO) in Cape Town\, held on the second and fourth Saturday of every month. \nEach 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. \nWeather permitting\, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy stargazing through the McClean and additional smaller telescopes. \n\n\n\nGates open at 7:30 PM.\nFree entry for children aged 6 and under.\n\n\n\nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings. \n\n\n\n\nSpeaker: Colton Feathers \n \nBio: Colton Feathers is an American theoretical cosmologist whose research focuses on simulations of the first stars and galaxies. Currently a post-doctoral fellow at Stellenbosch University\, he develops simulations of the early universe to predict observable results for both current and future missions such as those scheduled for South Africa’s SKA and HERA observatories. His work largely aims to constrain the rate and intensity with which the first stars and galaxies formed by simulating their impact on the large-scale universe\, with hopes of bettering our understanding of early structure formation as well as pushing the theoretical limits of our current cosmological model. \nAbstract: “How Did We Get Here? From the Big Bang to the First Stars” \nWe find ourselves residing on a planet that is one of many orbiting an average star within a galaxy that is just one of trillions scattered throughout the cosmos. However\, we simultaneously know that our universe is expanding as a result of its explosive formation nearly 14 billion years ago\, during an event known as the Big Bang. This then begs the question — how did the universe evolve from an incredibly hot\, dense early state into the awe-inspiring galaxies\, clusters\, and voids we see now? In this talk\, I will cover the first billion years of the universe’s history to illustrate how this transition came to be\, why it is important for our understanding of cosmology\, as well as the techniques astronomers are currently using to research this epoch of cosmic history \n 
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-open-night-37/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260727T110000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260727T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260702T112850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T095643Z
UID:25949-1785150000-1785157200@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:National Science Month Day Tours
DESCRIPTION:National Science Month 2026 Day Tours\n\n\n\nIn support of the inaugural National Science Month initiative\, the NRF-SAAO invites visitors to join us for a special series of FREE guided day tours.\n\nVisitors will have the opportunity to explore the science\, history\, and innovation behind Africa’s leading optical and infrared observatory. Five exclusive tour sessions will take place from 27 to 31 July 2026\, with each tour starting at 11:00 and ending at 13:00.\n\nThe tour will include visits to the Main Building\, Visitor Centre\, and McClean Telescope. Weather permitting\, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy solar viewing through our solar telescopes.Guests are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and to dress warmly\, as the tour involves some walking between sites.Tickets are limited\, so early booking is recommended to secure your place. No ticket sales will be conducted at the gate\, so booking is essential.Gates will open 30 minutes before the event begins. Free and safe parking is available on site.National Science Month is a shared national effort led by the Department of Science\, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) to place science\, technology and innovation at the centre of everyday life in South Africa. \nFor more information about National Science Month\, please visit: \nhttps://www.saasta.ac.za/national-science-month/ \nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-national-science-month-day-tours-2/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260728T110000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260728T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260702T113038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T095751Z
UID:25957-1785236400-1785243600@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:National Science Month Day Tours
DESCRIPTION:National Science Month 2026 Day Tours\n\n\nIn support of the inaugural National Science Month initiative\, the NRF-SAAO invites visitors to join us for a special series of FREE guided day tours.\n\nVisitors will have the opportunity to explore the science\, history\, and innovation behind Africa’s leading optical and infrared observatory. Five exclusive tour sessions will take place from 27 to 31 July 2026\, with each tour starting at 11:00 and ending at 13:00.\n\nThe tour will include visits to the Main Building\, Visitor Centre\, and McClean Telescope. Weather permitting\, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy solar viewing through our solar telescopes.Guests are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and to dress warmly\, as the tour involves some walking between sites.\n\nTickets are limited\, so early booking is recommended to secure your place. No ticket sales will be conducted at the gate\, so booking is essential.Gates will open 30 minutes before the event begins. Free and safe parking is available on site.National Science Month is a shared national effort led by the Department of Science\, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) to place science\, technology and innovation at the centre of everyday life in South Africa.For more information about National Science Month\, please visit: \nhttps://www.saasta.ac.za/national-science-month/ \nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/nrfsaao-cape-town-national-science-month-day-tours-3/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260729T110000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260729T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260702T113643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T113643Z
UID:25963-1785322800-1785330000@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:National Science Month Day Tours
DESCRIPTION:National Science Month 2026 Day Tours\n\n\n\nIn support of the inaugural National Science Month initiative\, the NRF-SAAO invites visitors to join us for a special series of FREE guided day tours.\n\n\nVisitors will have the opportunity to explore the science\, history\, and innovation behind Africa’s leading optical and infrared observatory. Five exclusive tour sessions will take place from 27 to 31 July 2026\, with each tour starting at 11:00 and ending at 13:00.\n\n\nThe tour will include visits to the Main Building\, Visitor Centre\, and McClean Telescope. Weather permitting\, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy solar viewing through our solar telescopes.Guests are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and to dress warmly\, as the tour involves some walking between sites.\n\n\nTickets are limited\, so early booking is recommended to secure your place. No ticket sales will be conducted at the gate\, so booking is essential.\n\nGates will open 30 minutes before the event begins. Free and safe parking is available on site.\n\nNational Science Month is a shared national effort led by the Department of Science\, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) to place science\, technology and innovation at the centre of everyday life in South Africa.For more information about National Science Month\, please visit: \nhttps://www.saasta.ac.za/national-science-month/ \nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/national-science-month-day-tours/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260730T110000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260730T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260702T113735Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T113735Z
UID:25965-1785409200-1785416400@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:National Science Month Day Tours
DESCRIPTION:National Science Month 2026 Day Tours\n\n\n\nIn support of the inaugural National Science Month initiative\, the NRF-SAAO invites visitors to join us for a special series of FREE guided day tours.\n\n\nVisitors will have the opportunity to explore the science\, history\, and innovation behind Africa’s leading optical and infrared observatory. Five exclusive tour sessions will take place from 27 to 31 July 2026\, with each tour starting at 11:00 and ending at 13:00.\n\n\nThe tour will include visits to the Main Building\, Visitor Centre\, and McClean Telescope. Weather permitting\, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy solar viewing through our solar telescopes.Guests are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and to dress warmly\, as the tour involves some walking between sites.\n\n\nTickets are limited\, so early booking is recommended to secure your place. No ticket sales will be conducted at the gate\, so booking is essential.\n\nGates will open 30 minutes before the event begins. Free and safe parking is available on site.\n\nNational Science Month is a shared national effort led by the Department of Science\, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) to place science\, technology and innovation at the centre of everyday life in South Africa.For more information about National Science Month\, please visit:https://www.saasta.ac.za/national-science-month/ \nPlease email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/national-science-month-day-tours-2/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260731T110000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260731T130000
DTSTAMP:20260713T150202
CREATED:20260702T113814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260702T113814Z
UID:25967-1785495600-1785502800@www.saao.ac.za
SUMMARY:National Science Month Day Tours
DESCRIPTION:National Science Month 2026 Day Tours\n\n\n\nIn support of the inaugural National Science Month initiative\, the NRF-SAAO invites visitors to join us for a special series of FREE guided day tours.\n\n\nVisitors will have the opportunity to explore the science\, history\, and innovation behind Africa’s leading optical and infrared observatory. Five exclusive tour sessions will take place from 27 to 31 July 2026\, with each tour starting at 11:00 and ending at 13:00.\n\n\nThe tour will include visits to the Main Building\, Visitor Centre\, and McClean Telescope. Weather permitting\, guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy solar viewing through our solar telescopes.Guests are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and to dress warmly\, as the tour involves some walking between sites.\n\n\nTickets are limited\, so early booking is recommended to secure your place. No ticket sales will be conducted at the gate\, so booking is essential.\n\nGates will open 30 minutes before the event begins. Free and safe parking is available on site.\n\nNational Science Month is a shared national effort led by the Department of Science\, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and coordinated by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) to place science\, technology and innovation at the centre of everyday life in South Africa.For more information about National Science Month\, please visit:https://www.saasta.ac.za/national-science-month/Please email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
URL:https://www.saao.ac.za/event/national-science-month-day-tours-3/
LOCATION:Cape Town\, Observatory Rd\, Observatory\, Cape Town\, 7925\, South Africa
CATEGORIES:Cape Town Tours
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR