First there was SALT First Light (September 2005), when the first colour images of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) were released to the national and international public, exactly five years after groundbreaking.

Then, in November last year there was the official inauguration of Southern Africa’s Large Telescope in Sutherland by President Thabo Mbeki, signalling that Africa’s giant eye to the sky was ready for business.

Now, for the first time, SALT’s first significant scientific research results are about to be released to the general public and the international science community – amongst other things giving new insight into an exotic pair of stars closely orbiting one another...

This research uses a strength of the SALT design which is rare among large telescopes, the ability to take 'snapshots' of stars in very quick succession, so that the rapidly changing properties of compact stars can be studied, especially as they pull in gas from their companions or surroundings.

WHERE:
Auditorium, South African Astronomical Observatory,
Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town
(Download Map)

WHEN:
Wednesday, 16 August 2006

TIME:
10h30 for 11h00

IN ATTENDANCE:
SALT astronomers Dr Darragh O'Donoghue and Dr Dave Laney
Dr O'Donoghue and Dr Laney will be available for media interviews after the presentation.

RSVP:
Mitzi du Plessis on Cell 083 258 8945, or email mitzi(at)malachite-marketing.co.za
by Tuesday, 15 August at 12:00

The release of the SALT First Science information coincides with the 26^th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The science of astronomy has certainly never been more interesting - astronomical discoveries are pouring in from observatories on the ground and in space, and notably for the first time from SALT.

For two weeks, August 14-25, nearly three thousand astronomers from 84 different nations will be gathering at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly in Prague to discuss and evaluate the most recent discoveries and observations, to make decisions on fundamental issues and to organise international cooperation. This will be one of the largest IAU General Assemblies ever held.

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together distinguished astronomers from all nations of the world. South Africa will be represented by Prof Phil Charles, Executive Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory, a research facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

IAU’s mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers. The IAU General Assembly is held every three years and is one of the largest and most diverse meetings in the astronomical community’s calendar.

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, and equal to the largest in the world.

Links
SAAO: http://www.saao.ac.za
SALT: http://www.salt.ac.za
IAU: General Assembly
http://www.iau.org
http://www.astronomy2006.com/

Contact
Mitzi du Plessis
Cell: 083 258 8945
E-mail: mitzi(at)malachite-marketing.co.za