• Register now for the CASPER Africa 2027 – Digital Instrumentation Training Programme

    SARAO is thrilled to host the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER) Workshop 2027 in Cape Town!

    Read more

  • Big Data Africa School prepares Africa’s future researchers for AI-driven medical imaging and quantum computing

    The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) hosted its 6th Big Data Africa School in Cape Town from 5 to 10 October 2026.

    Read more on the 6th Big Data Africa School

  • MeerKAT maps hydrogen across large cosmological scales

    The MeerKLASS Collaboration reports their first measurement of the large-scale clustering of cosmic hydrogen, advancing a technique that could transform how cosmologists chart the Universe.

    Read more on MeerKAT Large Area Synoptic Survey

  • South Africa’s MeerKAT combines with NASA’s Webb to pinpoint the most distant cosmic Fast Radio Burst

    In research published today in the journal Science, astronomers show that the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) identified to date originated from a surprisingly small and young galaxy at a time when the universe was only a quarter of its current age.

    Read more

  • A black hole in the Milky Way aims its jet at us

    Astronomers have found the first convincing “microblazar” in our Galaxy — a star with a black hole orbiting around it, firing a beam of near-light-speed matter almost straight towards Earth. Its opposite, invisible beam slams into a cloud of gas and may be the source of some of the most energetic particles ever detected.

    Read more "microblazar" in our galaxy

  • Astronomers directly detect faint cosmic hydrogen signal using the MeerKAT telescope

    An international team of astronomers from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Manchester has used South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope to directly detect the faint radio emission from neutral hydrogen gas across cosmic distances — without relying on any other survey to find it.

    Read more
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Pioneers of Radio Astronomy

The Square Kilometre Array, built in South Africa, will be the largest radio telescope ever built and will produce science that changes our understanding of the universe. NRF-SARAO is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope, Geodesy and VLBI activities.

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Featured News

Discover the latest breakthroughs, discoveries, and updates — exploring the universe’s wonders and advancing the frontiers of science.

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MeerKAT maps hydrogen across large cosmological scales

MeerKAT maps hydrogen across large cosmological scales

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South Africa’s MeerKAT combines with NASA’s Webb to pinpoint the most distant cosmic Fast Radio Burst

South Africa’s MeerKAT combines with NASA’s Webb to pinpoint the most distant cosmic Fast Radio Burst

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A black hole in the Milky Way aims its jet at us

A black hole in the Milky Way aims its jet at us

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MeerKAT Radio Telescope: Powering Over 700+ Groundbreaking Research Publications!

MeerKAT Radio Telescope: Powering Over 700+ Groundbreaking Research Publications!

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Big Data Africa School prepares Africa’s future researchers for AI-driven medical imaging and quantum computing

Big Data Africa School prepares Africa’s future researchers for AI-driven medical imaging and quantum computing

Above: Participants in the 6th Big Data Africa School which took place in Cape Town from 5 to 10 October...
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MeerKAT maps hydrogen across large cosmological scales

MeerKAT maps hydrogen across large cosmological scales

The MeerKLASS Collaboration reports their first measurement of the large-scale clustering of cosmic hydrogen, advancing a technique that could transform...
Read More
Tesla Minions Triumph at 2023 FIRST Lego League Northern Cape Robotics competition

Tesla Minions Triumph at 2023 FIRST Lego League Northern Cape Robotics competition

By SARAO Comms In a thrilling showcase of creativity, innovation, and engineering prowess, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)...
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Astronomers reveal best image yet of mysterious ORCs in space

Astronomers reveal best image yet of mysterious ORCs in space

Astronomy’s newest mystery objects, odd radio circles or ORCs, have been pulled into sharp focus by an international team of...
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SARAO’s Video Archives – Watch, Learn, Explore

Engaging content on SARAO’s research, telescope operations, and cosmic discoveries—explore interviews, updates, and stunning visuals

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Watch – Science Webinar: Mega-Science under scrutiny: Lessons from SKA for Africa’s next frontier

Watch – Science Webinar: Mega-Science under scrutiny: Lessons from SKA for Africa’s next frontier

Watch: Meet Sias Malan Receiver Systems Manager at SARAO

Watch: Meet Sias Malan Receiver Systems Manager at SARAO

SARAO People: Meet the experts behind SARAO—the minds driving innovation in radio astronomy and shaping the future of science.

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26m and 15m telescopes at Hartebeesthoek

MeerKAT Telescope

Telescopes and Instruments

A close-up view of a single MeerKAT radio telescope dish in the Karoo, reflecting sunlight against a backdrop of rugged terrain, symbolizing cutting-edge astronomical research

MeerKAT in Northern Cape, South Africa

The South African MeerKAT radio telescope, situated 90 km outside the small Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, is a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope and will be integrated into the mid-frequency component of SKA Phase 1. Discover how the MeerKAT telescope is built.

26m and 15m radio telescope for radio astronomy and geodesy in Hartebeesthoek Site, Johannesburg, South Africa

SARAO Hartebeesthoek Site is located west of Johannesburg, South Africa. built in 1961 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States of America. An 85 foot = 26 metre diameter antenna was used to get data from, and send commands to, many unmanned US space probes going beyond Earth orbit. Discover Astronomy Instruments in Hartebeesthoek Site

SARAO’s Groundbreaking Digitizer Technology: Advancing Radio Astronomy

SARAO’s Groundbreaking Digitizer Technology: Advancing Radio Astronomy

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