South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town

Name: South African Astronomical Observatory
Address: Cape Town, South Africa

#119 among attractions in Cape Town

Observatories and planetariums

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Map

South African Astronomical Observatory location map

Map

Gallery

South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town

Facts and practical information

South African Astronomical Observatory is the national centre for optical and infrared astronomy in South Africa. It was established in 1972. The observatory is run by the National Research Foundation of South Africa. The facility's function is to conduct research in astronomy and astrophysics. The primary telescopes are located in Sutherland, which is 370 kilometres from Observatory, Cape Town, where the headquarters is located. ()

Alternative names: Established: 1972 (52 years ago)Coordinates: 33°56'5"S, 18°28'39"E

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ObservatoryCape Town South Africa

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Cape Town

Day trips

South African Astronomical Observatory – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Rhodes Memorial, Heart of Cape Town Museum, Cape Town Science Centre, Mostert's Mill.

1.6 miSW
Historical place, Memorial
Rhodes Memorial, Table Mountain National Park
42 min walk • Rhodes Memorial on Devil's Peak in Cape Town, South Africa, is a memorial to English-born, South African politician Cecil John Rhodes. The memorial was designed by the renowned architect, Sir Herbert Baker.
0.9 miSW
Museum, Specialty museum, History museum
Heart of Cape Town Museum, Cape Town
25 min walk • The Heart of Cape Town Museum is a museum complex in the Observatory suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is in the Groote Schuur Hospital on Main Road.
0.8 miW
Museum, Specialty museum, Science museum
Cape Town Science Centre, Cape Town
21 min walk • The Cape Town Science Centre is a not-for-profit science centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It forms part of a wide range of non-classroom initiatives to improve the quality of science understanding and science literacy in South Africa.
1.4 miSW
Museum, Windmill
Mostert's Mill, Cape Town
35 min walk • Mostert's Mill is a historic windmill in Mowbray, Cape Town, South Africa. It was built in 1796 and was the oldest surviving complete windmill in South Africa. It was gutted in a wildfire on 18 April 2021. The fire had started on Table Mountain and spread, severely damaging a number of buildings.
~1250 ftSW
Area
Observatory, Cape Town
7 min walk • Observatory is a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa that is bordered by Mowbray to the south, and Salt River to the northwest. Colloquially known as Obs, the area is best known as a student neighbourhood, home to students, faculty and other staff associated with the University of Cape Town nearby.
~0 ftN
Observatories and planetariums
Royal Observatory, Cape Town
1 min walk • The Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, is the oldest continuously existing scientific institution in South Africa. Founded by the British Board of Longitude in 1820, it now forms the headquarters building of the South African Astronomical Observatory.
~480 ftS
Library
SAAO Library, Cape Town
3 min walk • The SAAO Library is the national library of the South African Astronomical Observatory for astronomy and space science located in Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. Its primary function is to conduct fundamental research in astronomy and astrophysics.
1.3 miE
33°56'21"S • 18°29'56"E
Pinelands Presbyterian Church, Cape Town
32 min walk • City hall
~1610 ftNE
Windmill
De Nieuwe Molen, Cape Town
8 min walk • De Nieuwe Molen is the oldest and the largest extant mill in South Africa and was built in 1782 near the Black River. The mill is situated in the Alexandra Hospital in Maitland, Cape Town and was declared a National Monument in 1978.
~730 ftE
Area
Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary, Cape Town
4 min walk • Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary is a 10-hectare protected area in Cape Town, located on the Liesbeek river near the suburb of Observatory. The sanctuary consists of a section of the Liesbeek River, with parkland, trees, lawn and picnic sites.
~1640 ftS
Sport venue, Sport, Arenas and stadiums
Hartleyvale Stadium, Cape Town
8 min walk • Hartleyvale Stadium is a field hockey stadium in Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. It was previously used as a soccer stadium by Cape Town City in the National Football League era, as well as by Hellenic during the late 1980s.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to South African Astronomical Observatory?

Nearby attractions include Royal Observatory, Cape Town (1 min walk), SAAO Library, Cape Town (3 min walk), Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary, Cape Town (4 min walk), Observatory, Cape Town (7 min walk).

How to get to South African Astronomical Observatory by public transport?

The nearest stations to South African Astronomical Observatory:

Train

Observatory (11 min walk)
Koeberg Road (16 min walk)

Bus

Spencer 1 • Lines: 102 (21 min walk)
St Peters Square Residence • Lines: Ct1 (22 min walk)