The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) has developed a one metre telescope, which it says is SA's first optical telescope that is remotely operated and potentially robotic.
According to SAAO, the telescope, which is developed in partnership with Germany-based APM Telescopes, is capable of images that are 70 times larger than those existing telescopes are capable of.
It uses the Sutherland high-speed optical camera, which can take 70 images in one second to study rapid changes in solar systems. The device is undergoing final tests and is expected to start operating in September.
Dr Ramotholo Sefako, telescope operations manager at SAAO, says: "The telescope is able to operate on its own without the intervention of a human being and it can be operated from anywhere. In terms of distance, it is able to see objects which are a few million light years away, which means viewing is not only limited to the planets - which are a few light days away from earth - but it goes even beyond that."
It is an addition to a collection of many national and international telescopes that are on the organisation's observing plateau, near Sutherland in the Northern Cape, he adds.
"SAAO had a number of telescopes which have been operating since the 70s. After commissioning the smaller telescopes to organisations and donating another two to local universities, the organisation thought it would be a great idea to develop a more modern version of the telescope, which is equipped with the latest technological innovations," he explains.
In an effort to coin a 'proudly South African' name for the telescope, SAAO ran a telescope naming competition that closed on 31 March.
"We received around 230 entries with name ideas from school pupils all over the country. This number will be narrowed down to 20 names. The top 20 entries will be handed over to a selected team of judges who will decide on the final winner. The prize is a trip to Sutherland, where the winner will view the telescope in operation, and have their name engraved on it," notes Sefako.
The telescope will be officially introduced to the public at the naming ceremony in the next few months.
"It will be made available for use to astronomers and also be used by post-graduate astronomy students from local universities to develop skills in observing images taken with the telescope. Where possible, the results will be written and published in scientific journals," he concludes.
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