The South African Astronomical Observatory celebrates 200 years of its existence

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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.

Celebrating 200 years of the South African Astronomical Observatory by Karel van der Vyver (Daily Maverick), 16 October 2020

Construction of the McClean telescope 1896

Perched on the outskirts of Observatory in Cape Town, just above the Black River, stands the South African Astronomical Observatory; initially known as the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, it has multiple telescopes, a museum, a mechanical workshop that can “build, maintain and support the various instruments used on telescopes in Sutherland”, and a library.

Now, the observatory is turning 200, and on the day of our visit, the place is bustling with people busy sanding the inside of the building, painting walls, and preparing the observatory ahead of the celebrations.

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Delgoa Bay Now Known as Maputo Bay, Mozambique

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Delgoa Bay is a Bay on the South East coast of Mozambique, East Africa, near the South African border. Discovered by António do Campo, a member of Vasco da Gama’s expedition (1502), it was first explored by Lorenzo Marques, a Portuguese trader, in 1544. It was important as an outlet for ivory and slaves, as a way station for Indian Ocean trade, and as an avenue of approach to South African diamond fields and goldfields. Ownership was contested by the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Boers until by arbitration (1875) it was awarded to Portugal.

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The Royal Observatory occupies a small wooded Hill about 6 km East of central Cape Town, within a Conservation Area known as; the Two Rivers Urban Park. Its location was originally chosen to be within view of the Table Bay, the anchorage in front of the City, to permit the visual signaling of time to visiting ships, because of the treacherous Sea, hence the name: 'Cape of Storms'.

Mabel Palmer

Dr Mabel Palmer (nee Mabel Atkinson) was born on 22 May 1876 near Stocksfield in Northumberland, England. Her father, J.B. Atkinson, was a mine inspector, and her mother, Jane Atkinson, a militant suffragette. Her mother’s activism most likely had an impact on young Palmer, who would later become a prominent feminist campaigner.

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Wagendrift Dam and Moor Park Nature Reserve is situated just off the N3 highway, near Estcourt. The Reserve is roughly 980 square Kilometers, in extent and includes a popular picnic and fishing spot. An Iron Age site dating back to AD 1300 is found on Makhabeni Hill overlooking; Moor Park and is listed as the first known Iron-Age Settlement in Southern Africa. On the Southern side of the Dam, there are large fossil beds with many fossilised trees lying exposed at ground level.
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