The South African Astronomical Observatory
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the national optical observatory of South Africa and a National Facility administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
SAAO Education Officer Sivuyile Manxoyi (above), working on North and South activities with learners at Sinethemba
SAAO headquarters (left) are in the suburb of Observatory in Cape Town , but the main telescopes used for research are at the SAAO observing station near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4 hour drive from Cape Town.
In the Summer of 2005, SAAO started operating the Southern Afrian Large Telescope (SALT) at Sutherland.
Dr Clifford Nxomani (far right) is the Manager of the SALT-Science Foundation. Clifford coordinated the Cape Town and Sutherland education activities of the North and South project during the Summer of 2005.
The 91 hexagons that make up SALT's primary mirror (left) make it the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.