SAAO’S SALT and NASA’S Hubble Space Telescope Discovers New Dwarf Galaxy
While observing data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and long-slit spectroscopy using the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), scientists discovered the Peekaboo dwarf galaxy (HIPASS J1131–31) is exceptionally metal-poor. Detailed in the recently published Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society collaborators and the South African Astronomical Observatory’s (SAAO) Astronomer…
Could an African Spaceport Be the Answer to Growing Launch Demand? (Part Two)
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launches for the Europa Clipper Mission at the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida, US on October 14, 2024.
Our previous analysis examined Africa's distinctive capabilities and potential role in the expanding launch services market. We assessed the growing global demand for launch services, evaluated current spaceport capacity worldwide, and identified…
Kenya Officially Launches its Astro-Tourism Initiative
Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Tourism giving her keynote address during the launch of Kenya's Astro-tourism on September 7, 2025. Source: Samburu Sopa Lodge
Kenya officially launched Astro-Tourism as part of its national tourism portfolio, with an inaugural launch that took place on September 7, 2025, in Samburu County, Kenya. The event coincided with a total lunar eclipse, providing a…
Dragonfly Aerospace and CUBECOM Sign Strategic Compatibility Agreement
Source: Dragonfly Aerospace
Dragonfly Aerospace, a leading provider of high-performance electro-optical payloads and satellite solutions, has announced a strategic compatibility agreement with CUBECOM, a specialist in high-speed satellite communication systems, today at the 39th Annual Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This partnership will facilitate a simplified…
KP Labs and Simera Sense Collaborate to Deliver Integrated AI-powered Optical Payloads for Future Space Missions
Source: Simera Sense
KP Labs and Simera Sense have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 39th Annual Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. The agreement formalises a growing collaboration between the two companies, whose complementary technologies, optical payloads and onboard data processing can support upcoming Earth observation and planetary exploration…
Astronomers Raise Concerns Over Starlink’s Impact on South Africa’s Telescope
South Africa's Meerkat Radio Telescope. Source: SARAO
As Elon Musk’s Starlink moves toward entry into the South African market, astronomers are increasingly concerned about the impact of its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites on radio astronomy, particularly at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid) located in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape. The SKA, one of the most powerful radio…
Strathmore University Wins the 2025 Manfred Lachs Space Moot African Regionals
The 2025 winners of the Africa Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. Source: Kenya Space Agency
Strathmore University from Kenya has won the 2025 Africa Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, becoming the first Kenyan institution to advance to the global finals. The competition took place in South Africa and featured ten…
How Large Satellite Constellations Affect Astronomy in Africa
Projected growth of major satellite constellations. Source: Media Reports, Jonathan McDowell, https://planet4589.org
In recent years, satellite technology and deployment have significantly evolved to usher in what is commonly referred to as the “NewSpace” era. This revolution has been characterised by the increased ease of access to space, a shift away from the traditional government-led…
South Africa Launches the PRIME Telescope To Advance Exoplanet Discovery
The new Prime Telescope in Sutherland, Northern Cape. Source: DSTI, South Africa
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…
2024 in Review: The African Astronomy Landscape
The MeerKAT Radio Telescope Array in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Source: South African Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Throughout history, African cultures have been deeply connected to the cosmos, incorporating various celestial bodies in their day-to-day lives. Today, the continent has transformed this astronomical heritage into ambitious scientific pursuits, promoting…