African Radio Astronomy: Southern African Large Telescope (S.A.L.T)

The Southern African Large Telescope (S.A.L.T.) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, with a hexagonal mirror array 11 metres across. The construction of SALT has been completed, funded by a consortium of international partners from South Africa, the United States, Germany, Poland, India, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. It is now in its commissioning phase.

Astronomers from southern Africa and SALT partners in the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Poland, Germany and India use SALT to tackle fundamental questions about how the Universe works. The science programmes are many and varied. For example, SALT is being used to conduct spectroscopic follow up observations of Supernovae to measure their distance. Projects are also proposed to conduct spectroscopic follow up observations of faint X-ray sources discovered with the XMM-Newton and Chandra satellites to determine the nature of these objects. Closer to home, SALT is being used to study some of the smallest asteroids ever discovered.

Further information: www.salt.ac.za