Local News
SALT leaves scientists starry-eyed─── 11:20 Sat, 30 Apr 2016
Sutherland - Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor this week visited the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) at Sutherland in the Northern Cape and was told that astrophysicists there are observing supernovas "almost weekly".
SALT is the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and is sensitive enough to observe stars and galaxies thousands of light years from earth.
Pandor also visited a community centre where children from Sutherland are given computer lessons. She said the initiative is putting South Africa firmly on the world map in terms of science and it helps train young people at master's and PhD levels.
Apart from SALT, the Northern Cape hosts the Square Kilometre Array at Carnavon. It will be the largest radio telescope in the world once it has been completed.
Its precursor the Meerkat is expected to be operational in June this year.
-news24.com
