Africa has some of the world's most important astronomy facilities, from giant optical telescopes in South Africa to radio observatories designed to detect signals from deep space. The continent's dry climates, high-altitude locations and relatively low levels of artificial interference have made several sites particularly valuable for astronomy.
South Africa is especially prominent. Its astronomy infrastructure includes the Southern African Large Telescope, MeerKAT and the developing SKA-Mid array. The country has also created protected astronomy areas to preserve dark skies and radio-quiet conditions.
Here are some of the most impressive astronomical observatories operating or being developed in Africa.
1. Southern African Large Telescope in South Africa
The Southern African Large Telescope, known as SALT, is located near Sutherland in South Africa's Northern Cape.
With an 11-metre segmented primary mirror, SALT is the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. It is operated as an international facility and is used for research covering stars, galaxies and other astronomical objects.
Its location also benefits from exceptionally dark skies.
2. MeerKAT in South Africa
MeerKAT is a 64-dish radio telescope array in the Northern Cape.
Rather than producing conventional optical images, radio telescopes detect radio waves emitted by astronomical objects. MeerKAT has become a major instrument for studying phenomena including pulsars, galaxies and the structure of the Milky Way.
It is also a precursor to the much larger SKA-Mid telescope.
3. SKA-Mid in South Africa
South Africa is hosting the SKA-Mid telescope in the Karoo region.
The planned array will initially comprise 197 dishes, including the existing 64 MeerKAT antennas. Construction began in 2021 and is scheduled to continue through 2029.
The project is part of the international Square Kilometre Array Observatory and represents one of the largest radio astronomy projects ever undertaken.
4. Kottamia Astronomical Observatory in Egypt
Egypt's Kottamia Observatory is located in the desert approximately 75 kilometres northeast of Helwan.
The African Astronomical Society identifies its 1.88-metre telescope as the largest telescope in North and Central Africa and the Middle East.
Its desert setting provides relatively dry conditions for astronomical observations.
5. South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland
Sutherland hosts more than one major telescope.
The South African Astronomical Observatory operates a collection of facilities at the site, including SALT and the 1.9-metre telescope.
The Astronomy Management Authority describes Sutherland as South Africa's premier optical astronomy site.
6. H.E.S.S. in Namibia
Namibia is home to the High Energy Stereoscopic System, better known as H.E.S.S.
Unlike conventional optical telescopes, H.E.S.S. detects very-high-energy gamma rays indirectly through the flashes of light they produce in Earth's atmosphere.
Its location in the Khomas Highland gives the observatory exceptionally dark skies and makes Namibia an important location for high-energy astronomy.
7. Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Facilities
Ethiopia has developed a growing national astronomy and space-science programme.
The Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute in Addis Ababa has been involved in astronomy education, research and space science, while Ethiopia's highland geography provides opportunities for astronomical observation.
The country's scientific institutions have also contributed to the development of astronomy education in East Africa.
8. Boyden Observatory in South Africa
Boyden Observatory is located near Bloemfontein in the Free State.
The site has a long history in astronomical research and includes several telescopes used for observing celestial objects.
It is operated by the University of the Free State and remains part of South Africa's wider astronomical research infrastructure.
9. The African VLBI Network
The African Very Long Baseline Interferometry network is not a single telescope.
It is a developing network connecting radio astronomy facilities across African countries so that observations can be combined.
This type of astronomy allows researchers to effectively create a much larger virtual telescope by combining signals received at widely separated stations.
10. The Karoo Astronomy Advantage Areas
South Africa's astronomy strength is partly protected by law.
The Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act allows areas of strategic importance to astronomy to receive special protection from activities that could interfere with observations.
The Karoo Central Astronomy Advantage Area protects the radio-quiet environment around MeerKAT and the future SKA-Mid facility, while Sutherland has protections for optical astronomy.
Africa's astronomical infrastructure is therefore much broader than a handful of telescopes. South Africa has become a major centre for both optical and radio astronomy, Egypt has a long-established desert observatory, Namibia hosts high-energy gamma-ray research, and other countries are expanding astronomy and space-science programmes.
The continent's combination of geography, dark skies and growing scientific infrastructure has made Africa an increasingly important location for observing the universe.
