The quiet town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape is not quiet anymore. The launch of a R36m telescope, which was inaugurated by President Thabo Mbeki recently, is expected to become the Sutherland’s star attraction.

This year alone more than 5 000 tourists keen on learning about astronomy and the universe have visited Sutherland bringing in  a new dimension to tourism in South Africa.

The number of tourists is set to grow to about 30 000 a year, according to a study done by South African Astronomical Observatory on the benefits the new telescope would have on the area.

The dome-shaped telescope and its giant spider-like contents comprise the largest telescope in the southern hemisphere, with the power to change the understanding of life as we know it.

"SALT will position South Africa at the forefront of 21st century astronomical research," says South African astrophysicist Thebe Medupe. It will be able to look back 13-billion light years in time and tackle unsolved questions about the universe and our place in it.
Astrophysicists around the world believe the information gathered from SALT may trigger a revolution more dramatic than the leap from Newtonian to quantum physics.

The reason SALT is in Sutherland is because it is one of a handful of locations in the world that is ideal for stargazing. Its remoteness, high elevation (2 000 metres) the cold and the absence of pollution, delivers clear, cloudless skies.

SALT will form an integral part of research into space science and astronomy and the new telescope will help position South Africa as a hub for such research. Sutherland is the perfect location for the telescope as it is one of the highest areas in the country.