Sutherland trip xi - SALT

Posted by dobbino (Cape Town, South Africa) on 3 August 2009 in Documentary & Street and Portfolio.

This series would not be complete if I did not post a photo of the Southern African Largest Telescope observatory (SALT). This is not my best photo of the building, but it's the only one that shows some motor vehicles, so one can get a sense of perspective as to its size.

The "pizza oven" structure on the right is 34 metres high, and at the top houses the optical wavefront sensor that ensures that the 91 interchangeable hexagonal mirror segments making up the primary mirror are properly aligned. This procedure (aligning the mirrors) is done approximately once a week.

The telescope is also known as Africa's Giant Eye.

A number of you have commented on the clear blue sky shown in previous images - I just wish you could see what the sky looks like at night when it is so clear. It's a sight that I will never forget.

All comments, and especially constructive criticism is truly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time.

All images © Rob Minter, and licensed in terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 South Africa License

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