Welcome to the brand new SAAO Website

Welcome to the brand new South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Website

This site is the first phase of an exciting revitalisation of our web presence.

Future plans include multilingual content, real-time upload of event happenings, etc.

Please enjoy your visit.

• SAAO Website

KMTnet Site Live View - Sutherland, South Africa

KMTnet Site Live View - Sutherland, South Africa

"Journey into the Universe"

Source: CCTV

"Journey into the Universe" (working title 'Dark Matter') on CCTV

 This is a 30 minute doccie I made for Faces of Africa on Chinese TV earlier this year.

The film follows radio astronomer Nadeem Oozeer and cosmologist Bruce Bassett as they journey to the SKA site in Carnarvon, in order to understand how the Square Kilometre Array telescope will shed light on mysteries of the Universe such as its origins, Dark Matter and Dark Energy.

Asteroid 1998QE2 Fly-by - SAA Observatory

On May 31, 2013, asteroid 1998 QE2 passed by Earth, at a distance no closer than about 5.8 million kilometers, or about 15 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. The asteroid, which was discovered on the 19th August 1998, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) programme in the US, is thought to be about 2.7 kilometers long. It is not a threat to Earth however, as astronomers are certain that the asteroid will pass by rather uneventfully. Although the asteroid will not be visible with the naked eye as it will be too faint, it will be visible using a small telecope.

For more information visit www.asteroidflyby.saao.ac.za

1998 QE2 Close aproach

And there she goes! Asteroid 1998 QE2 video captured by Jonathan Bradshaw (Astrojunk) complete with meteor and satellite zooming past! Nabbed 31st May during closest approach. -Suzy.

How to Choose Eyepieces - Orion Telescopes and Binocualrs

Fly-by of Asteroid 1998 QE2 with music - YouTube

Fly-by of Asteroid 1998 QE2 with music - YouTube

SpaceObs on USTREAM: .

 Bron: Willie Koorts

Die beloofde skakels na dekking van vanaand se verbyvlug van Asteroïde 1998 QE2. Ons hoop die weer is ons genadig tussen 19:30-20:30! Gisteraand se kleedrepetisie lyk heel goed! Geniet.

Last night we took some "dress rehearsal" video of the Asteroid 1998 QE2 which is making a close (if you call 5.8 million km close!) pass to Earth on Friday night using the 20 inch. The video was saved on UstreamTV at

• SpaceObs on USTREAM: .

Asteroid 9 times size of ocean liner approaches Earth | MyScienceAcademy

Asteroid 9 times size of ocean liner approaches Earth | MyScienceAcademy

Mars will look as big as the Full Moon - Astronomy Magazine

Mars will look as big as the Full Moon - Astronomy Magazine