among the stars
May 04, 2020
4 minutes
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHS Michelle Hardie
Sutherland is no ordinary Karoo town. Behind the rickety windmills and bone-dry landscape, stories of accomplishment prevail. It’s here that local and international astronomers collaborate at the South African Astronomical Observatory’s field station to seek answers to fundamental questions such as how did the universe evolve and what is the future of our species? Since the construction of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) in 2005, one of the largest in the world, the observatory has been recognised as a first-class research facility at the forefront of space science.
“I packed a range of woolly hats, scarves, jerseys, a down jacket and knee-high boots for our winter visit”
That Sutherland has the
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days