The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), Africa’s most powerful optical telescope and a cornerstone of global astronomy, has celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of groundbreaking discoveries, scientific collaboration, and technological progress.
The milestone celebration took place on Monday, 10 November, in Sutherland, Northern Cape, where the telescope is based.
Dubbed Africa’s Giant Eye on the Sky, the Southern African Large Telescope still holds its title as the biggest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.
The event was co-hosted by SALT, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), a national facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF), as per the South African Government News Agency.
The gathering brought together scientists, government officials, and international partners to reflect on SALT’s enduring impact and its role in shaping South Africa’s global scientific reputation. In his welcoming remarks, Professor Brian Chaboyer, who is the Chair of the SALT Board, reflected on the telescope’s historic origins.
‘The telescope is the first optical telescope built in South Africa,’ he said, calling it a ‘courageous’ decision at a time when such facilities had always been built abroad.
‘Motivated by an ambitious Science White Paper from the new government, there was a plan for South Africa to build and operate the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere,’ Chaboyer added.
SALT was officially inaugurated in 2005 by then-President Thabo Mbeki, following South Africa’s decision in 1998 to commit US$10 million toward its construction.
The NRF’s Board Chair, Professor Mosa Moshabela, highlighted the human impact of the telescope’s work.
‘It represented a conviction that South Africa could build and sustain a world-class research facility and, through it, redefine its place in global science,’ he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina described the project as a defining moment for the country’s scientific landscape.
‘SALT was built to serve both science and society, linking frontier research with education, technology and socio-economic development,’ she remarked.
Gina added that SALT’s 20-year journey is ‘a story of vision, perseverance and excellence’, reaffirming the government’s commitment to making sure it remains a guiding light for African science, bringing together research, education, and innovation to help people everywhere.
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Picture: SAAO ASTRO/Instagram
