South Africa has continuously invested in astronomy, despite the challenges it, like many developing countries, faces, highlighted National Research Foundation (NRF) CEO Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, addressing the XXXII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. These challenges included poverty, unemployment and inequality.

The country continued to invest in astronomy because it was aware of the technology benefits that came from astronomy, he explained. He expressed the hope that the returns on the country’s investments into astronomy would soon be visible to everyone.

Astronomy could contribute to the development of both Africa and South Africa. The country and the continent both enjoyed a geographic advantage, regarding astronomy. (He did not have to explain to the delegates that this was the result of clear skies free from light and other forms of pollution, and large areas with low radio frequency interference, which benefitted optical and radio astronomy respectively.)

The NRF is the host organisation for the XXXII IAU General Assembly. The Foundation is responsible for the funding of research, the development and maintenance of research facilities, and human capacity development, across the entire spectrum of science and knowledge, in South Africa.

“We celebrate the rich history of astronomy in Africa,” affirmed IAU president Professor Debra Elmegreen (of the US) in her address. “Astronomy is rooted in all cultures.”

She pointed out that the world’s oldest astronomical site, Nabta Playa, was in Egypt. It dated back 7 000 years (towards the end of the Neolithic, or New Stone, age). This made it some 2 000 years older than the first iteration of Stonehenge, in England.

As for modern astronomy, South Africa had joined the IAU in 1922. (The IAU itself had been founded in 1919.) She however noted that South African astronomy dated back about 200 years.

She also highlighted that African astronomers had held, and were currently holding, many leadership positions in the IAU.