SAAO Science Engagement

Celebrate Youth Day 2026 with NRF|SAAO Cape Town! 🌞🔭

Join us for FREE special guided day tours and safe solar viewing through the Observatory’s solar telescopes, weather permitting.

Tour times: **10:00 AM** and **1:00 PM**
Tickets are limited, so book early.

For more information and bookings, visit:
https://www.saao.ac.za/visit-capetown/

Please take note of this call if you have a grade 12 learner or are one. Get in touch.

Do you know any grade-12 learners that would benefit from this exposure? If so, kindly spread the word as we advance knowledge and transform lives. South African Institute of Physics SAASTA

Astro-tourism is a growing niche tourism product in South Africa, as such, the Department of Tourism has a call inviting applications from tourist guides who want to be trained as Astro-guides. Closing date for applications is 22 June 2026.

Together with the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development and African Astronomical Society we met with the group astronomers from Brazil who are in South Africa to
strengthen BRICS Astronomy collaboration and partnerships with South Africa through potential bilateral agreements between South Africa and Brazil, to promote closer engagement with the Intelligent Observatory and instrumentation teams at South African Astronomical Observatory. Also, to identify further opportunities for collaboration.

The highlight of the meeting this morning was to demonstrate the societal benefits linked to astronomy. We are already working with BRICS Astronomy and AfAS on science communication training.

Today’s engagements at the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA budget debate.

Earth and Beyond is a huge part of the CAPS curriculum. The NRF|SAAO education officer, Buzani Khumalo together with the Planetary Science Institute scientist, Dr. Sickafoose visited a few local schools with the sole purpose of talking about the Solar System. https://www.psi.edu/blog/bringing-solar-system-science-to-south-african-schools/

Bringing Solar System science to South African schools - Planetary Science Institute One of the great ironies in planetary science is that the best places to put telescopes and do field work are also places where kids may not have access to