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Mail & Guardian
astronomylatest news & developments

Inquiry-based training in physics and astronomy for Cape winelands intermediate phase teachers

The Natural Sciences curriculum content taught during the third and fourth school terms was covered in the final training session organized by Advancing Knowledge Non-Profit…

Advancing inquiry-based teaching of physics and astronomy in the Overberg education district

Advancing Knowledge NPC’s professional development sessions for natural sciences teachers concluded their 2025 delivery in the Overberg Education District of the Western Cape…

Sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest planetarium has relaunched as the new state-of-the-art Wits Anglo-American Digital Dome after it underwent an R90 million refurbishment project.

Wits relaunches state of the art digital dome after R90 million refurbishment

The dome has over the years projected significant historical events, including screening footage of the Apollo 11

The ensemble of the dishes forming South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope is seen in Carnarvon on July 16, 2016. – Even operating at a quarter of its eventual capacity, South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope showed off its phenomenal power on July 16, revealing 1,300 galaxies in a tiny corner of the universe where only 70 were known before. The image released Saturday was the first from MeerKAT, where 16 dishes were formally commissioned the same day. (Photo by MUJAHID SAFODIEN / AFP)

UCT astronomers discover first dark cloud without host galaxy

It is hoped the MeerKAT telescope will lead to more discoveries on the evolution of galaxies

This artist’s impression shows the first interstellar asteroid, Oumuamua as it passes through the solar system after its discovery. (European Southern Obervatory/M. Kornmesser/Handout/Reuters)

Astrophysicists bicker over extraterrestrial drive-by

​A scientific paper made a splash this week by claiming that a cigar-shaped rock zooming through our solar system may have been sent by aliens

School children at the site of the KAT-7 radio telescope in Carnarvon

A big moment for Africa: Why the MeerKAT and astronomy matter

Astronomy is accessible to anyone with a view of the sky

Boris Johnson

Is maths any of their beeswax?

The humble honeybee is catching up to humans in the arithmetic game, but there is quite literally nothing to worry about

Sutherland is blessed with very little light pollution

New telescope MeerLicht to observe transients

The MeerLicht telescope will scour the skies to study transient celestial events. But its link to the MeerKAT radio telescope is what sets it apart.

World reaches for the stars in SA

Scientists say the Northern Cape is the perfect place for radio astronomy, with its low rainfall and clear skies making it a "radio quiet" site.

South Africa will see physicist Brian Cox’s TV programme ‘Human Universe’ next year.

The life (on other worlds) of Brian

Science’s "hottest" TV presenter, Brian Cox, makes a good argument for life elsewhere in the universe.

Astronomers discover old, distant galaxy

The discovery of Abell 2744_Y1, a galaxy about 30 times smaller than the Milky Way, dates back to 650-million years after the birth of the universe.

The Square Kilometre Array

SKA: To the stars and beyond

The Square Kilometre Array, the biggest scientific endeavour in the world, is under construction in SA. We went to see the ground-breaking project.

Suddenly Africa is looking up

Far-flung lowtech satellite dishes have been bringing the continent up to astronomical speed.

Oldest known Mayan charts found in Gautemala jungle

Ancient inscriptions on the walls of a looted house in the Guatemalan jungle are the oldest astronomical charts known from the Mayan civilisation.

A galaxy of possibilities

A galaxy of possibilities

The physical laws of the universe contain lessons for teachers’ progress through life, according to an award-winning astronomer.

Loosely: In the sky is a diamond planet

Astronomers have spotted an exotic planet that seems to be made of diamond racing around a tiny star in our galactic backyard.

A watershed of astronomical proportions

A watershed of astronomical proportions

Will heavy-handed bureaucracy or best scientific practice win the day, asks <b>Marian Shinn</b>.

Blighted by poor web connection

Astronomers at SA’s space telescope are forced to send findings by road, while politicians call on Telkom to resolve the issue, reports David Smith.

Earth rising

Consider how radically an understanding of the heavens has changed; how we view ourselves and our place in the universe.