SAAO Science Engagement

26/05/2026

Happy Africa Day from Dr. Christian Hettlage who is a software engineer at the Southern African Large Telescope. He is also ver involved with the science engagement at the NRF|SAAO.

25/05/2026

Happy Africa Day!

22/05/2026

Together with the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development and African Astronomical Society we met with the group astronomers from Brazil who are in South Africa to
strengthen BRICS Astronomy collaboration and partnerships with South Africa through potential bilateral agreements between South Africa and Brazil, to promote closer engagement with the Intelligent Observatory and instrumentation teams at South African Astronomical Observatory. Also, to identify further opportunities for collaboration.

The highlight of the meeting this morning was to demonstrate the societal benefits linked to astronomy. We are already working with BRICS Astronomy and AfAS on science communication training.

21/05/2026

If you are considering studying astronomy or curious about astronomy, Astronomy Department at UCT will be hosting an open day on May 30. Don’t miss out.

15/05/2026

Today’s engagements at the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA budget debate.

15/05/2026

Earth and Beyond is a huge part of the CAPS curriculum. The NRF|SAAO education officer, Buzani Khumalo together with the Planetary Science Institute scientist, Dr. Sickafoose visited a few local schools with the sole purpose of talking about the Solar System. https://www.psi.edu/blog/bringing-solar-system-science-to-south-african-schools/

One of the great ironies in planetary science is that the best places to put telescopes and do field work are also places where kids may not have access to

22/04/2026

15/04/2026

Lesedi telescope in Sutherland spotted Artemis spacecraft, see comment from Dr. Potter, the astronomer who was observing at the time.

09/04/2026

Teachers, leaners and members of the public, tune in to the Expresso Morning Show-SABC 3 and listen to our science engagement astronomer, Dr. Cunnama.

Tune in tomorrow to Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3 to catch Dr. Daniel Cunnama, NRF|SAAO’s Science Engagement Astronomer, discussing the Artemis at 07:00am

Stream on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/Expresso Morning Show - SABC 3

30/03/2026

Our director, Professor Skelton.

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Rosalind Skelton, who is the Managing Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory, and closes out our series on This is the final episode in our series on women in Astronomy. Dr. Skelton’s story begins with a deep-rooted cu...