The South African Astronomical Observatory celebrates 200 years of its existence

On 20 October 1820, the Royal Observatory Cape of Good Hope, which became known as the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) was founded. It is the oldest scientific institution in the country. The institution was formally controlled by the British Admiralty. Its purpose was to observe the southern skies and to provide a time service for ships passing Cape Town harbour. The Observatory is known for its history and its immense contribution to positional astronomy in the southern hemisphere. Besides, its buildings are regarded for their special architectural significance. The Observatory is known for its first measurement of the distance to a star, its first photographic sky survey and its accurate measurement to the sun. It serves as a museum, a mechanical workshop that has multiple telescopes to maintain and supports different kinds of instruments used in the Sutherland Observatory.

On 20 October 2020, the SAAO will be celebrating its 200th anniversary. This will mark the unveiling of it as a National Heritage Site. The event is scheduled to be held in Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape Province. It will be live-streamed across the world. The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Heritage Resource Agency (SAHRA) will be the co-hosts of the event. Among those invited are the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Science and Technology, Dr B.E Nzimande and the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nkosinathi Mthethwa, to participate remotely. The theme of the event will be ‘Beyond 200 years of Astronomy’. The event will include an Africa-centred astronomy symposium and a virtual astronomy festival. The event will cover different topics and will provide an opportunity for people to familiarize themselves with the cultural and sociological aspects of astronomy.