ATLAS–SAAO observatory

ATLAS–SAAO is the South African station of the ATLAS asteroid-detection network, hosted at the South African Astronomical Observatory's dark-sky site in Sutherland, one of the country's most popular stargazing destinations.

About ATLAS–SAAO observatory

ATLAS–SAAO became operational in early 2022 as part of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), a NASA-funded robotic survey developed and operated by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy to catch small near-Earth asteroids days to weeks before any possible impact. It was one of the network's first Southern Hemisphere stations, alongside the Chilean unit, extending ATLAS's nightly coverage into skies the Hawaiian telescopes cannot reach. The station is hosted in partnership with the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) at an elevation of roughly 1,767 metres, and carries the Minor Planet Center code M22.

Telescopes & research

Like its sister stations, ATLAS–SAAO uses a wide-field, 0.5-metre Wright-Schmidt telescope with a large CCD camera built to sweep broad areas of sky quickly. It shares its hilltop with SAAO's other research instruments, including the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), forming one of the continent's most active astronomical sites.

Location & getting there

Sutherland sits in the Northern Cape's Karoo region, on a plateau about 1,800 metres above sea level that is prized for its dry air, high number of clear nights, and near-total lack of light pollution. It's the site the South African Astronomical Observatory chose for its main research telescopes, making the small town one of the country's best-known dark-sky destinations.

Visiting ATLAS–SAAO observatory

The ATLAS unit itself is an unattended robotic camera and isn't part of the public tour route, but the SAAO Sutherland site around it welcomes visitors: guided day tours run several times a week past SALT and the other research telescopes, and evening stargazing tours let visitors view the sky through dedicated 16-inch and 14-inch visitor telescopes. Bookings are required in advance through SAAO, and the site is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

See your named star from here

Few places on Earth show a clearer sky than Sutherland, making it an excellent spot to actually look for your named star. Name a star to get its exact coordinates and certificate, then browse the star catalogue or book a stargazing tour at the SAAO Sutherland visitor centre.