Yonsei Survey Telescopes for Astronomical Research

Yonsei Survey Telescopes for Astronomical Research, known as YSTAR, was a former astronomical observatory in Sutherland, South Africa, run as a joint project between the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and Yonsei University in Korea.

About Yonsei Survey Telescopes for Astronomical Research

YSTAR was built around three 0.5-metre telescopes fitted with fast F/2 optics, giving it a wide field of view of nearly 3.5 square degrees on a 2K CCD camera. Its telescopes could slew at more than 10 degrees per second, allowing rapid acquisition of newly detected targets.

History

The project's primary objective was monitoring variable stars and transient astronomical events, with a secondary role in identifying asteroids. YSTAR could detect objects down to 18th R-magnitude. The observatory was decommissioned in 2012.

Location & getting there

YSTAR was sited in Sutherland, South Africa, home to the country's main astronomical research site and among the darkest skies on the African continent, in the Africa region.

Visiting Yonsei Survey Telescopes for Astronomical Research

As a decommissioned facility, YSTAR itself is no longer active, though Sutherland remains a hub for astronomy through the SAAO's other telescopes. Check the South African Astronomical Observatory's website for current visiting options in the area.

See your named star from here

Sutherland's dark skies made it the natural home for a rapid-response telescope array like YSTAR, and they remain some of the best stargazing conditions in the southern hemisphere. Name a star or browse the catalogue of stars already registered.