SALT
Southern African Large Telescope
Operational
The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and among the largest in the world. It has a hexagonal primary mirror array 11 metres across, comprising 91 individual 1m hexagonal mirrors.
SALT is situated at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) field station near the small town of Sutherland, in the Northern Cape province, about 400 km far from Cape Town. SALT is funded by a consortium of international partners from South Africa, the United States, Germany, Poland, India, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. The telescope has been in full science operation since 2011 and is realising its huge potential as Africa’s Giant Eye on the Universe.
South African Astronomical Observatory
http://www.saao.ac.za/SCIENTIFIC DOMAINS
Gravitational wave and electromagnetic astronomy
Key words: astronomy mechanical, electrical and software engineering
FACILITIES
SOWFTWARE
BVIT
HRS Simulator
PIPT
PySALT
PySlitMask
RSMT
RSS Simulator
SALTICAM Simulator
Tim’s Finder Chart Tool
Visibility Calculator
HRS Pipeline
INSTRUMENTS
BVIT
HRS
RSS
SALTICAM
SERVICES
SALT collects light from astronomical objects and accurately focuses it to one of four focus points. From there the light proceeds into an optical instrument while the telescope tracks the relative movement of the object across the sky to maximise exposure time.
KEY PARTNERS
SALT is funded by a consortium of international partners from South Africa, the United States, Germany, Poland, India, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
ACCESS RULES
Plan your proposal
Prepare observations for your approved proposal
Reduce and publish your observations
DEADLINES
Important Dates for the 2019 – 2nd semester
(01/nov/2019 – 30/apr/2020)
2019 Call for Proposals
31 July 2019 at 16:00 UT Phase I Deadline
20 October 2019 at 16:00 UT Phase II Deadline