The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is the national observatory of South Africa and is one of three National Facilities administered by the NRF. The SAAO headquarters are located in Observatory, Cape Town, but the major observing facilities, consisting of modern instrumentation and large telescopes, are near situated near Sutherland in the Karoo. The SAAO was founded as the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope in 1820 and the main building, used now for offices for the staff, was completed in 1828. There are various telescopes of historical importance on the grounds.

Research
Astronomical research carried out at SAAO covers a wide range of fields of expertise. This frequently involves international collaboration and aims at a better understanding of the formation, structure and evolution of our Galaxy. Areas of research include Galaxies and Quasars, the Magellanic Clouds, Galactic Structure and Stellar Astrophysics.

Summer School in Astrophysics
Every year in January the SAAO holds a Summer School for university students of physical science, mathematics and related subjects. The aim is to illustrate the application of these subjects to the study of our environment on the grand scale, to broaden the outlook of students and to bring students from different universities and backgrounds to live and work together. The School consists of lectures and small research projects.

Public Relations
A tour of the observatory in Cape Town is held once a month. A talk on the history and development of astronomy in South Africa is presented and is followed by a tour of the facilities, which include the computers and the McClean Telescope, the largest telescope on the Cape Town site. The Sutherland site may only be visited during the day, but it is essential that this be arranged beforehand with the SAAO in Cape Town or Sutherland.

For further information on the SAAO visit: www.saao.ac.za