Cape Town - As part of celebrations to mark International Year of Astronomy 2009, South Africa this week marked the 180th anniversary of the completion of its Astronomical Observatory.
Unveiling the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) this week, Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena said astronomy in South Africa was thriving.
"Our history in astronomical achievements reads like a novel. Our accomplishments in this field rank with the most glittering in the world.
"Our future in astronomy looks very rosy indeed. To achieve this, we must all help to spread the story of South Africa's developments in astronomy," he said.
The IYA2009 is an initiative of the International Astronomical Union and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared 2009 as a global celebration of IYA2009, its contribution to society, culture, but with strong emphasis on education, public participation which involves the young generation.
He said world-wide, there was a shortage of skills in maths and science as well as in other technological fields.
In South Africa, the minister said the shortage can be attributed to language of instruction challenges and ignorance about the role that maths, science and technology graduates can play in society.
Mr Mangena urged the astronomy industry to help address the challenge by luring more young people into the field.
Astronomy is one of the oldest scientific endeavours of observing and recording of the goings on in the sky. It is also a classic example of how science can contribute towards furthering international cooperation.
Now telescopes on the ground and in space explore the Universe, 24 hours a day, across all wavelengths of light.
Meanwhile, minister Mangena reiterated that South Africa stood a good chance to win the bid to host the biggest radio telescope in the world.
"We are also confident that we can develop and utilise the SKA to its maximum efficiency and turn it into the most effective instrument that the world's astronomers and physicists have ever had in their tool kit," he said.
South Africa and Australia are the two countries short-listed to host the Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA) which in many ways will also be the largest terrestrial astronomical endeavour ever attempted.
Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia are South Africa's partners in the bid whose outcome will be announced in 2011.
It is hoped that the telescope, to be located in the Northern Cape, will be completed in 2020.
