The National Research Foundation’s three astronomical facilities, the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa have joined forces to form the South African Astroinformatics Alliance (SA³), which would serve as a virtual observatory to facilitate access by the South African astronomical community to multiwavelength astronomical data.

The other primary purposes of the alliance were to ensure that data produced by facilities in South Africa was accessible to the international community and to develop human capital through schools and workshops that introduced individuals to data and tools of the virtual observatory.

“South African astronomy is entering an extraordinary era characterised by huge amounts of data from new and upcoming observational facilities, including the Southern African Large Telescope, the Karoo Array Telescope and the SKA. Linking these datasets to theoretical models and simulations adds yet another dimension,” SA³ said in a statement.

It added that South Africa could be well positioned to exploit its wealth of data by developing its storage, access, visualisation and analysis tools in a coherent manner that took cognisance of the rapidly changing scale and complexity of the requirements and the environment.

“Links between the observational data, theoretical models and simulations would also play key roles in our growing understanding of the universe and must form an integral part of our vision,” the alliance noted.

SA³ would assist in linking South African astronomers to similar international organisations to take full advantage of software and hardware developments elsewhere. To this end, the International Virtual Observatory Alliance had welcomed SA³ to its membership, which included similar organisations in Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, France, Germany and Hungary, besides others.

“SA³ is a powerful medium for training, as it brings vast astronomical resources, along with highly sophisticated, but easy-to-use techniques. It allows students and teachers to conduct informative experiments or exercises with relatively simple and inexpensive tools,” the alliance stated.

The alliance has started training students under the National Astronomy and Space Science Programme and has developed new student projects that demonstrates the latest findings in astronomy, while also exposing students to modern developments that are taking place in the astronomy and information technology domains.

With support from the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development, the alliance is geared towards assisting other institutes and universities in South Africa and Africa to develop similar student projects, while also developing mathematical and scientific skills, particularly in Africa.