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.

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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.

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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.

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Rare ultra-magnetic star the key to solving a quantum cold case
Astronomers may have just confirmed one of the most bizarre aspects of quantum physics: that seemingly empty space can alter the behaviour of light.

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SARAO, Digiskills Africa launches third cohort to strengthen Africa’s future workforce
SARAO and DigiSkills Africa has launched its third pan-African Digital Transformation Programme cohort, bringing together participants from across the continent to develop the capabilities needed for Africa’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

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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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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

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

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

Astronomers directly detect faint cosmic hydrogen signal using the MeerKAT telescope

Rare ultra-magnetic star the key to solving a quantum cold case

SARAO, Digiskills Africa launches third cohort to strengthen Africa’s future workforce

Pioneers of Radio Astronomy

Featured News

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

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

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

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

Astronomers directly detect faint cosmic hydrogen signal using the MeerKAT telescope

SARAO Electronics team exhibits at SANSA Open Day

Groups of all ages hosted at third SARAO Public Open Day for 2026

SARAO hosts successful World Robot Olympiad harnessing fresh tech talent among Northern Cape learners

Innovating for impact: Fort Hare students harness Open Data and AI to uplift communities in the Eastern Cape