A sweltering spring day in Gauteng and I was well on the way to Visit SARAO Hartebeesthoek. Surrounded by beautiful rolling hills, the Hartbeeshoek site is located just south of the Magaliesberg mountain range.
I turned left out of the Hekpoort road onto a long winding side road that seems to stretch for several light years, when suddenly I see a looming antenna mast rising out of the mountains. A sign on the left directs me to SANSA and on to the Radio Astronomy site confirming that I was on the right path.
Geez it was hot! Temperature gauge at 34° Celsius!
After quick formalities at the security checkpoint I was unable to contain myself, seeing the 26m Radio Telescope for the first time ever. My mother used to tell me stories of space travel and the wonders of the universe and this telescope always cropped up from time to time in her tales of wonder, which still resides in me.
After 40 years I later I made it Mom!
Let’s jump back in time to October this year: I was invited by Tebogo from Arcelor Mittal Science Center to attend the official launch of her Astronomy outreach program.
A wonderful affair we had, and this is where I met up with Marion West from HARTRAO. We immediately started talking about the Radio Telescope and once Marion heard I worked at the agency for Celestron in South Africa the conversation started on the repair and service of their Celestron 14” telescope.
Fast forward to 22 November and I am standing in front of this huge Radio Telescope in the middle of the mountains!
Marion gave me the royal treatment and took me on a tour of the entire facility while the large 26m pictured in the gallery was moving to a new target.
I was shown the 15m radio telescope and very interesting was the moulding left behind from the manufacturing process, you can see its structure next to the telescope in the gallery below.
The interesting fact that no one really knows is that not only does this radio telescope study galaxies, quasars, stars, and other phenomena, it is also used in Geodesy and according to Dr Google “Geodesy” is the science of accurately measuring and understanding the Earth’s geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field.”
Now not to get too carried away by the radio telescope and other exciting equipment, the real reason I was invited was to inspect their Celestron 14” telescope, pictured below. It is a monster of a telescope and dwarfs the little lady that does not seem to have any issue handling this beast.
Apart from being locked up in a dark storeroom, the telescope needs a bit of TLC and one motor has a loose connection and something was oscillating inside the OTA.
I have tasked Foton Optoelectronics to assist with repairs and awaiting feedback with great interest and anticipation.
Marion and I had a discussion earlier this year in Newcastle about the prospect of using the facility to host some astronomy events and outreach programs. Having said this the facility has a visitors’ center that is in dire need of a makeover, and getting the funds will not be an easy task.
The idea behind this all is to get more feet through the facility and show the people who oversee funding that it is viable to do some renovations and repairs. I look forward to my next Visit SARAO Hartebeesthoek
And this, my dear readers, is to promote astronomy in the community and teach learners and grown ups alike that astronomy and science is not just for an elite group of people but every enquiring mind. We do science every day, when you boil water in a kettle to make a cup of coffee in the morning, you are doing science, you are creating chemical reactions. Anyone can be an astronomer; All you must do is look up and observe the movements of the heavens.
Remember to always look up!
Frank Barbato
Read more about our astronomy events here, and if you have any questions, fill out our contact form here, and we will get in touch with more information.
A Visit To SARAO Hartebeesthoek will soon be available and we are excited for the prospect of taking guests on a night sky tour in this exciting location.
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