South African Astronomical Observatory

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is a facility of the National Research Foundation, which operates under the Department of Science and Technology.

SAAO’s headquarters are in the aptly named suburb of Observatory in Cape Town. The main telescopes used for research are located at the SAAO observation station 15Kms from the small Karoo town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape, a 4-hour drive from Cape Town.