Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) sits in a natural bowl of hills near Johannesburg, South Africa. Founded in 1961, it has long served as South Africa's leading radio astronomy research facility.

About Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

HartRAO is operated as a National Research Facility by South Africa's National Research Foundation. For decades it was the only major radio astronomy observatory in Africa, a status that lasted until the construction of the KAT-7 test bed for the future MeerKAT array.

History

The observatory was founded in 1961, on a site chosen for the natural bowl of hills at Hartebeesthoek, just south of the Magaliesberg mountain range. It went on to become South Africa's principal radio astronomy facility, holding that role alone on the continent until newer projects such as KAT-7 began construction.

Location & getting there

HartRAO is located at Hartebeesthoek, about 50 km west of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, in a natural bowl of hills that helps shield its radio dishes from interference.

Visiting Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

HartRAO welcomes visitors and school groups for tours of its radio telescopes; check the observatory's official website for current opening times, tour bookings, and any admission details before travelling.

See your named star from here

HartRAO's radio dishes are built to point precisely at coordinates across the sky, the same principle behind the right ascension and declination recorded for a star named through Star Register. See the catalogue for your star's position.