Stories in the African Night Sky
Not only is our beautiful country a spectacular sight to behold during the sunny daylight hours, but it’s also magical under the cover of darkness. South Africa has some of the most magnificent dark sky reserves and Astro Tourism spots in the world, and they’re right on your back door!
The Celestial Big Five
Did you know that the African sky has its own big five? They are the amazing star clusters, gas clouds, and galaxies visible from Africa. The Celestial Big Five are the Southern Pleiades, the Omega Centauri star cluster, the Eta Carinae nebula, the Coalsack Nebula, and the Southern Milky Way. They can all be seen with the naked eye, but are more spectacular when viewed through binoculars or a telescope. On your next visit to see the Big 5, make that magical connection between you and the amazing universe.
Finding stars is one of South African’s secret little pleasures, especially in remote areas where the sky is free of pollution to distract you from what’s twinkling in the sky. Cold and dry winter evenings are particularly awesome when it comes to discovering the brilliance of South Africa’s inky heavens, where the Milky Way swathes the sky in a stunning, celestial treat.
What is the Milky Way myth in South Africa?
According to Bushmen legend, the Milky Way was created when a girl threw wood ashes from a campfire into the sky to help a lost hunter find his way back to camp. She later created some of the brighter stars by throwing roots into the sky.
Stargazing is a popular outdoor activity offering a chance to see the night skies of South Africa as you’ve never experienced them before. There are many excellent spots to enjoy endless hours gazing into the starry universe above, as you learn more about stars, planets, and astronomy. For inquiring minds searching for knowledge and a bit of magic, this is one of the most rewarding and fascinating adventure activities on offer, giving you a chance to learn more about the universe.
Sutherland
This remote location in the desolate Karroo most often tops the list as South Africa’s premier stargazing destinations, as well as one of the coldest, so wear two pairs of socks and prepare for temperatures that can dip below freezing. However, your frozen toes will soon become insignificant as a nocturnal rainbow of stars reveals itself to you. The tiny town of Sutherland is home to the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere and boasts cloudless nights through 80% of the year where a flat landscape allows unobstructed views of a surreal and magical night sky.
West Coast
Along the Cape’s West Coast, you will be able to enjoy some of the finest star-gazing spots in the country. Be ready at sunset to give you ample time to watch the sun go down and wait for a blanket of stars to appear. Experienced professional astronomers will explain more about the stars in relation to planets, but make yours an intimate experience. With the breathtaking mountains and vast open spaces, the night air is fragrant with the scent of pine and fruit trees, and gazing up at the night sky will add an extra dimension to the celestial show you can enjoy in the skies above. Who needs a trip to the observatory as on clear nights, thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye?
Cederberg
The Cederberg in the Western Cape is a popular tourist destination and is well-loved for its pristine natural beauty, majestic mountains, and scenic landscape. The region is also worth a visit on a Saturday night when the Cederberg Astronomical Observatory opens its doors to the public for a few hours. After an informative slide show, guests are free to make use of the observatory’s three powerful telescopes that bring the distant stars into clear, sharp focus while the pollution-free mountain air adds to the astounding clarity. There are also powered polar-aligned mounts for portable telescopes as well as a few homemade Newtonian telescopes available to use. The observatory is open every Saturday, with the exception of those that fall on a full moon when the sky is too bright to properly reveal the stars.
Kruger National Park
Far from the hustle and bustle of the city is the famous Kruger National Park. Known worldwide for its wildlife, this African treasure is also a beautiful destination for stargazing. This quiet region is ideal for observing the hidden jewels of the night sky with no light pollution or anything else besides the occasional sound of wildlife to distract you. Some of the sky objects and constellations that are easily visible to the naked eye include the Southern Cross, the Big Dipper and the Milky Way This is a thrilling experience for anyone who loves fauna, flora, AND the night sky.
Carnarvon
Although there’s not much to observe here during the day, the little Karroo town of Carnarvon is home to the next big thing in star gazing, called the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. This mega-science project comprises an array of telescopes spanning 10 countries and two continents, Africa and Australia. Combined they will be the largest telescope of any kind to ever spy into the universe, and they are backed up by a host of super-fast computers to deal with the incoming data. While the facility has yet to open its doors to visitors, the expansive and infinitely clear sky in Carnarvon is bound to leave you star-struck.
Astro tourism, also known as space tourism or astronomy tourism
Astro tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more people have become interested in astronomy and the night sky. Advances in technology, such as portable telescopes and digital imaging equipment, have also made it easier for amateur astronomers to participate in astro tourism and observe the universe in all its wonder. You no longer need to lug a 100kg telescope up the side of an uncharted mountain to take a look at the Milky Way.
Astro Tourism means anything from visiting observatories, planetariums, or other facilities that specialize in astronomy, or adventuring to remote locations to observe the night sky in all its glory and all you really need to access these prime dark sky reserves and the magical skies they boast is your trusty 4×4 packed with camping gear.
But then you can go one step further…
Astrophotography
Astrophotography is simply taking a photograph of an object in space, whether it's with a point-and-shoot camera, the Hubble Space Telescope, or any other type of camera. And the subject matter can include anything from the moon to the Milky Way.
Can you do astrophotography anywhere?
Astrophotography can literally be done anywhere! However, it is just a special adventure shooting the night sky in wilderness spaces where there is less light pollution so there is a brighter Milky Way.
Lastly, always be respectful of the environment and the local community. Avoid littering, stay on designated trails, and try your best to leave every place you visit as you find it. Remember that you are a visitor in someone else’s home, and act accordingly. It feels nicer being respectful, anyway!
