If you love gazing at the twinkling lights of our beautiful night sky, then visiting the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town should be on your night-time bucket list.
Sometimes admiring the wonder of space with your naked eye is simply not enough, so why not head to SAAO’s Open Night instead?
The event was initially postponed due to COVID-19 and various social distancing regulations, much to the chagrin of countless stargazers around Cape Town.
However, it’s back and better than ever with tickets selling out fast. What makes this event uber special is the fact that visitors have the chance to learn a bit more about space, our planet and physics with incredible speakers hosting each event… imparting some knowledge.
The SAAO’s headquarters are located in the suburb of Observatory and is located on the former Royal Observatory. This historic building is considered a National Heritage site and offers a range of incredible facilities for those looking to dig a little deeper into the mysteries of space.
These Open Nights take place every second and fourth Saturday of every month at 8:00pm. Along with presentations on topics on astronomy or physics, visitors also have the opportunity to be introduced to the historic McClean telescope, the observatory museum, and the library.
Keep your fingers crossed that it’s a clear night as you’ll get a chance to enjoy a peek through the telescopes set up for the night.
So, stargazers unite! And make sure you book your free ticket before they’re sold out. Head to the website to find out which days are available.
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Picture: South African Astronomical Observatory / Facebook