SALT and SAAO – responding to astronomy in the 2020s // Sky in June // AGM

Talk by Prof. Petri Vaisanen, Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).

The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town operates a multitude of telescopes at the Sutherland observing site, including the 10-m optical Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). I will highlight recent updates from SALT including new instruments for time-domain astronomy and exoplanets, as well as plans to revolutionize the way SALT observes by utilizing so called “mini-trackers”. I will also present a new SAAO/SALT “Intelligent Observatory” initiative aiming to make the whole mountain-top operate as a single rapid-response ‘machine’ in the era of massive numbers of ‘transient’ astrophysical targets and data.

We will also have the Sky in June followed by our AGM for ASE members only.

Join us live on our YouTube channel.