SARAO - South African Radio Astronomy Observatory

Welcome to SARAO We are thrilled to welcome our new team members who joined SARAO in November 2024! 🎉 Your expertise and enthusiasm will strengthen our efforts as we explore the universe and beyond. New appointments: Procurement Assistant (Supply Chain Management) Pipeline Engineer (SKAO Collaboration) People and Culture Business Partner (Karoo Site) Senior Systems Engineer (Systems Engineering) Junior Radiotricians x2 (Karoo Site) Engineering QA Specialist (Engineering PMO) Purchasing Assistant (SKAO Collaboration) We look forward to working with you and achieving incredible milestones together! 🚀 The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope in the Karoo, the Geodesy and VLBI activities at the Hartebeesthoek site. Connect, follow and have a conversation with us on our social media platforms. Daily updates, and latest findings on the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory facilities, science and latest news from SARAO. News and views, FAQs and experts – see our accounts. LinkedIn: South African Radio Astronomy Observatory Facebook: SARAO X / Twitter: SKA_Africa Instagram: saraoweb Youtube: SARAO Web TikTok: SARAO_Official 🌌 Welcome aboard and let’s keep reaching for the stars! 💫 #TeamSARAO #Science #Welcome #SARAOPeople #RadioAstronomy

Day 4 Dr Tessa Vernstrom, CSIRO Space & Astronomy presenting on Science with the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) Survey (invited Talk)        Dr. Tessa Vernstrom is a leading researcher at CSIRO Space & Astronomy in Australia, specializing in the study of the cosmic web and its magnetic properties. Her work primarily focuses on using radio astronomy to explore the universe's large-scale structures, particularly the filaments connecting galaxies and clusters. These filaments form a web-like structure predicted by cosmological models and play a critical role in understanding the evolution of the universe. The SARAO 19th Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Conference is currently taking place in East London, South Africa, showcasing the research conducted by postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows supported by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). The conference is an annual event that fosters collaboration and the exchange of knowledge among young researchers in fields related to radio astronomy and associated sciences. #SARAOConference2024 #SARAOResearch #PostgraduateResearch #RadioAstronomy #PostdocResearch #ScienceInAfrica

Exciting Presentation at the SARAO 19th Postgraduate Research Conference! We are thrilled to see Miss Precious Katlego Sejake, PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria, presenting her groundbreaking work on the SALT Spectroscopic Follow-up of the G4Jy Sample at the ongoing SARAO 19th Postgraduate Research Conference in East London! Her research, funded by SARAO through the Human Capital Development Programme, focuses on the South African Large Telescope (SALT) and its crucial role in advancing our understanding of the universe. By conducting spectroscopic follow-up observations of the G4Jy sample (a catalog of high-redshift radio sources), Miss Sejake is contributing to the global effort to explore the most distant and mysterious regions of space. This conference serves as an incredible platform for showcasing cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration among South Africa’s brightest minds in astronomy and astrophysics. We look forward to learning more about Miss Sejake’s contributions and the future of radio astronomy in Southern Africa! 🌍 #SARAO #PostgraduateResearch #SALT #Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #PhDResearch #UniversityOfPretoria #HumanCapitalDevelopment #EastLondon #ScientificResearch #SpaceExploration

📢 Spotlight on Excellence in Radio Astronomy Research! SARAO bursary recipient Mr. Mukundi Ramanyimi, MSc, from the University of the Witwatersrand, is presenting groundbreaking research on "Archiving Visibility Data Using Lossy Baseline-Dependent SVD Techniques". This innovative work highlights cutting-edge solutions in data management for radio astronomy, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this field. Through SARAO’s Human Capital Development Programme, which has awarded over 1,590 grants and bursaries across various academic levels in the past 19 years, aspiring researchers like Mr. Ramanyimi have been empowered to excel. This initiative underscores SARAO’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of experts driving astronomical advancements. This week, SARAO proudly hosts the 19th Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Conference in East London, showcasing pioneering research, fostering collaboration, and celebrating the incredible achievements of our academic community. Let’s support and celebrate the amazing minds shaping the future of science! #SARAOResearch #AstronomyInnovation #HCD #PostgraduateConference2024 #Astronomy

The African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) The African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO)are pivotal initiatives driving the advancement of radio astronomy in Africa. Both play complementary roles in enhancing scientific research, infrastructure development, and capacity-building on the continent, with a particular focus on contributing to global astronomy projects such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The AVN will help to develop the skills, regulations and institutional capacity needed in SKA partner countries to optimise African participation in the SKA and enable participation in SKA pathfinder technology development and science. Read more https://lnkd.in/ds8hCrkV #africa #astronomy #science #sarao

Dr Kenda Knowles giving delegates a breakdown of what to expect this week at the 19th SARAO Postgraduate & Postdoctoral Research Conference. 📍 Where: Premier Hotel, East London 📅 When: 25–28 November 2024 We’re celebrating innovation, collaboration, and groundbreaking research in radio astronomy. Dr Kenda Knowles is a Senior Research Fellow at Rhodes University and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRF-SARAO). She is an astrophysicist, and focuses on the physics of galaxy clusters, with the aim of understanding the constituent galaxies, plasma, and magnetic fields, the physical processes that affect them, and how these processes may evolve over cosmic time or with cluster properties. She boasts extensive knowledge and expertise on the Square Kilometre Array, a pioneering project through which her PhD, which she received from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2016, was funded. Her PhD studied observational astrophysics and cosmology and produced evidence for a new radio halo in a low-mass galaxy cluster. #SARAOPeople #SARAOPostgraduateConference15

Kim Anthony, Head of SARAO HCD, kicked off the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) 2024 Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Conference with inspiring words: "This week, we celebrate the passion and dedication of our researchers shaping the future of science. Engage, collaborate, and let this be a platform for innovation and discovery!" Kim Anthony is the Head of Human Capital Development (HCD) at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). She has been with SARAO since 2004 when it was known as the South African SKA Project. Kim has played a pivotal role in shaping SARAO’s HCD initiatives, which aim to build a skilled community of scientists, engineers, technicians, and artisans to support the MeerKAT and SARAO facilities #SARAOPeople #SARAOPostgraduateConference #RadioAstronomy #Research

SARAO E-Learning The Transient Array Radio Telescope (TART) – Stanley Kuja An overview of the TART instrument, its objectives, system/hardware overview & live demonstration of the TART electronics using the instrument located at Rhodes University Link https://lnkd.in/dSRQQeiR #TART #Telescope #RadioAstronomy #SARAO

[In case you missed it] SANParks Honorary Rangers visit HartRAO for a sunset tour and stargazing activities On Saturday, 26 October 2024, more than 50 members of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, a Johannesburg-based volunteering organisation that brings together interested adults and learners from various schools for educational activities focused on nature and science, were hosted at HartRAO. A diverse group of learners, facilitators and parents attended the visit, all eager to explore the wonders of astronomy. This initiative was a collaboration between SARAO and the West Rand Astronomy Club (WRAC), who generously provided their telescopes and insights for an engaging star gazing session, enriching the experience for all participants. Read more https://lnkd.in/dgigTQsE

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