Rolf Kanwischer

Visiting the South African Astronomical Observatories and Sutherland



Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009

by Rolf Kanwischer
KanStra Travel

Tucked far away in the deep recesses of South Africa's arid Karoo region, lies the little town of Sutherland. As one turns west off the N1 Cape town - Johannesburg highway at Matjiesfontein, the road steadily rises for 100 km until one reaches the Verlatekloof and Rooikloof passes. Thereafter there is a slight descent for the last 10km to Sutherland.

The area around Sutherland is mountainous and arid with the typical small and hardy Karoo bushes covering the landscape. Here the tar road promptly ends, having been primarily constructed as an artery for the observatories just outside town. Accommodation is plentiful. The local town folk have spotted a golden opportunity and started a booming Bed and Breakfast industry catering to those anxious to get a look at the various astronomical observatories which make up the main attraction in the area. Winters can get very cold with temperatures of minus 16 degrees Celsius having been recorded in the past. The old NGK church which dates back to the Anglo Boer War period of 1899 to 1902 is one of the main landmarks in town and worth a visit. Visitors intending to tour the observatories need to get a booking and pick up their tickets in town. Thereafter it is an approximately 20km drive up the mountain to the observatories.

The mountain on which the telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatories (SAAO) are located is quite flat on top and rises several hundred meters above the surrounding country side and Sutherland. The views are quite spectacular from here. In winter the mountain is often covered in snow with the wind driving temperatures down to well below freezing. The tour usually starts at the small museum and visitor's center. Here the principles of the Spectrograph are explained, and various items relating to astronomy are exhibited. The top of the mountain contains over ten observatories, some of which are open to the public. These observatories range in size from 50cm through to the giant 11m Southern African Large Telescope, better known as SALT.

Visits generally start off with a tour of the smaller observatories that could include the 75cm Alan Cousins Telescope and the 1.0m Elizabeth Telescope. This telescope is one of five such telescopes situated in the southern hemisphere, and forms part of the Probing Lensing Anomalies NETwork or PLANET. Another interesting telescope is the remotely controlled 1.20m Monet telescope.

The end of the tour entails a visit to the prize attraction, namely the SALT telescope which was inaugurated in 2005. It is similar in design to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope in Texas. Its main component is its primary mirror that consists of 91 individually adjustable segments or mirrors. This gives it the capability of detecting a burning candle on the moon and also makes it the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. Unlike the older types of telescopes, this one contains its own control room from where astronomers do their measurements. Visitors may watch the astronomers going about their work from behind a large glass window where a prominent sign is displayed saying "Please do not feed the astronomers". They do however appreciate a packet of peanuts, so don't forget to bring one along!

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