Telescope project equips African universities with practical radio astronomy teaching tools to boost interest in STEM fields
Across Africa, a new wave of radio telescope deployments is igniting interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and empowering future scientists.

Read more on the TART Telescope installation
An Earth-sized radio observatory just got better: South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope joins forces with the European VLBI Network of telescopes
South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope has successfully conducted very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations with telescopes of the European VLBI Network (EVN)—currently the world’s most sensitive VLBI network.

Read more on the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations with telescopes
MeerKAT Radio Telescope Call for Observing Proposals
The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) announces an opportunity to apply for observing time on the MeerKAT telescope.

A minimum of 3,000 hours of telescope time will be awarded through this opportunity.

Find out more on the MeerKAT Knowledge Base
Botswana joins growing African radio astronomy network with latest TART telescope installation
Another Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) instrument has been deployed in Botswana during a workshop held at the Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) from 17–21 March 2025.

Read more on TART telescope installation
Milky Way’s cold gas clouds mapped in unprecedented detail by the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey
Using the data from the most sensitive radio telescope on Earth, the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa, an international team of astronomers has released the most comprehensive catalog of cold hydrogen gas in the Milky Way galaxy as part of the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey

Read more on cold hydrogen gas in the Milky Way galaxy

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.

Find out more about SARAO

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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Our journey through the remarkable construction of the South African MeerKAT telescope

Watch: Drone Footage of the Meerkat Telescopes installation at Carnarvon

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

Meet the Experts

Olwethu Cindy Namba – Procurement Assistant

Professor Justin Jonas – Former Chief Technologist

Technology

Desmond Tau – Stakeholder Coordinator

Cutting-edge technological advancements

SARAO Science: Discover the science driving SARAO’s world-class research

Explore Science

Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Re-ionisation project (PAPER)

C-BASS C-Band All Sky Survey project

26m and 15m telescopes at Hartebeesthoek

KAT-7 Telescopes

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. The MeerKAT telescope is an array of 64 interlinked receptors (a receptor is the complete antenna structure, with the main reflector, sub-reflector and all receivers, digitisers and other electronics installed). 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

Notices, Announcements and Upcoming Events

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Programmes and Opportunities

2128+ Grants

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474+ Research Publications

on MeerKAT data

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400+ Staff

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Telescope project equips African universities with practical radio astronomy teaching tools to boost interest in STEM fields

An Earth-sized radio observatory just got better: South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope joins forces with the European VLBI Network of telescopes

MeerKAT Radio Telescope Call for Observing Proposals

Botswana joins growing African radio astronomy network with latest TART telescope installation

Milky Way’s cold gas clouds mapped in unprecedented detail by the MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey