South Africa Launches the PRIME Telescope To Advance Exoplanet Discovery


The South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) has launched the PRime-focus Infrared Microlensing Experiment (PRIME) telescope, designed to advance South Africa’s capabilities in exoplanet discovery and advance research in time-domain astronomy. The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Professor Blade Nzimande and other dignitaries participated in the unveiling ceremony on 31 January at the Sutherland Telescope Site in the Northern Cape. The PRIME telescope is a joint initiative of NRF-SAAO, Osaka University, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, the University of Maryland, and the Astrobiology Centre of Japan.
The Sutherland site is already home to many cutting-edge telescopes, including the South African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere.
About the PRIME Telescope
The telescope is a 1.8-meter wide-field telescope equipped with the world’s largest class near-infrared (NIR) prime focus camera, provided by NASA. This will aid it in performing the world’s first NIR microlensing surveys for exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy, a significant milestone in detecting exoplanets. Further technical details on the telescope can be found here.

After completing successful installations and testing, the PRIME telescope is set to begin full science operations immediately. PRIME relies on the gravitational infrared microlensing method, making detecting planets orbiting faint stars and moving planets possible. This microlensing technique is a revolutionary step for exoplanet exploration, as it enables observations across multiple wavelengths, boosting the chances of finding exoplanets and helping map the diversity of planets in our galaxy.
Beyond exoplanet discovery, the telescope’s remaining observation time will be dedicated to other exciting research programmes, including studying exoplanet transits, exploring the structure of our galaxy, observing variable stars, and tracking transient objects. PRIME also has the flexibility to quickly respond to high-priority, time-sensitive observations, making it a versatile tool for astronomers. Construction of the PRIME telescope began in 2020 and was completed and reported to have cost about ZAR 168 million (USD 9 million).
This telescope aims to survey our Milky Way Galaxy to look for planets around other stars. Dr Rosalind Skelton, Managing Director, NRF-SAAO.
Meet the Space in Africa Team
- There are no upcoming events.