South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town

Coordinates: 18.4740, -33.9340
Updated: 19 Oct 2020

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/The-Main-Building-Cape-Town112222-1-768x502.jpg — The Entrance to the Main Building of the South African Astronomical Observatory in Observatory, Cape Town (Image supplied by the SAAO)

The Royal Observatory occupies a small wooded Hill about 6 km East of central Cape Town, within a Conservation Area known as; the Two Rivers Urban Park. Its location was originally chosen to be within view of the Table Bay, the anchorage in front of the City, to permit the visual signaling of time to visiting ships, because of the treacherous Sea, hence the name: 'Cape of Storms'. The Greek Revival Main Building of 1825-8 still dominates the Hill and faces a lawn to the South which forms an axis along which are many smaller edifices such as domes and dwelling houses, most dating from the Victorian period and forming a pleasant coherent whole. The only large modern building is inconspicuously located at the back (North) of the Main Building towards the Northern end of the Property.

Location Map

South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town

How we know this

01https://www.saao.ac.za/about/history/ https://www3.astronomicalheritage.net/index.php/show-entity?identity=52&idsubentity=1

Last updated · 19 Oct 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2020, October 19). South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/P-0150486

South African History Online (2020) 'South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town', South African History Online, 19 October. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/P-0150486 (Accessed: 4 August 2026).

South African History Online, South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/P-0150486, (accessed 4 August 2026).

"South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town." South African History Online, 19 Oct. 2020, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/P-0150486. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "South African Royal Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town." South African History Online. October 19, 2020. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/P-0150486.