Gamsberg project slated to bring universe closer to Africa

Namibia is taking a bold step forward in its quest to unlock the secrets of the universe. It is participating in a multinational initiative to construct the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) project within its borders and on its third-highest mountain, the Gamsberg.The 15-metre single-dish radio telescope will be constructed on the almost 2.4 kilometre high table-top mountain that is about 120 kilometres south of Windhoek. Astronomers expect it to unlock never-before-seen levels of detail in celestial objects.Initially co-founded by Radboud University and the University of Namibia (Unam), the project is now carried out by numerous universities worldwide. "This project is a collaborative effort between several universities, including Unam, as well as institutions from Europe such as Radboud University and the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom (UK) and the University of Turku in Finland," Hiiko Katjaita, a PhD student at Unam and member of AMT, said.Valuable dataKatjaita said with this type of telescope, scientists can capture detailed, high-resolution images of objects in space, including galaxies, exoplanets and stars. "The images will provide valuable data and information that can be used to answer some of the most pressing questions in astronomy and astrophysics, helping us better understand the universe and our place in it," he told News24. The telescope will be part of the Event Horizon Telescope network, which recently captured groundbreaking images of black holes. The Event Horizon Telescope is a global network of radio telescopes that collaboratively enables astronomers to peer into the depths of black holes. Black holes are born when massive stars - reaching the end of their lives - collapse under their weight, condensing a vast mass into a minuscule region of space.Significant milestoneThree astronomers from AMT, including Katjaita, visited the Klipheuwel Primary School in Malmesbury, in the Western Cape last week, as part of their mobile planetarium outreach programme. This visit was one of many events during the International Astronomical Union (IAU) general assembly, which for the first time in its 105-year history, hosted in Africa earlier in August. For Lott Frans, an astrophysics PhD candidate at Unam and member of AMT, the IAU represents a significant milestone for Africa and its youth. "I hope the learners see someone like me, a Namibian or an African, and realise that they too can become astronomers, engineers or pursue other science-related fields," Frans said. According to Katjaita, this project is not just about building telescopes, but also about inspiring the next generation of Africans to pursue careers in astronomy, science and related fields. The AMT mobile planetarium team was recently honoured with the prestigious Annie Maunder Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK. This medal recognises their extraordinary efforts to bring astronomy to under-served communities and schools across Africa. - FIN24

Gamsberg project slated to bring universe closer to Africa

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Republikein 2025-03-07

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Gamsberg project slated to bring universe closer to Africa

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