Living Amongst the Stars at the Johannesburg Observatory - Dirk J Vermeulen

Published 2006, revised 2012 History of astronomy in South Africa In the aftermath of the South African War the Transvaal Colonial Government was faced with many pressing claims on its resources. Under these circumstances it is surprising that they chose to open a meteorological station in Johannesburg knowing that it could not be expected to show im- mediate benefits. This account is largely concerned with what followed but to learn about the beginnings one must look back to see what was happening in the Cape. The first Europeans to reach South Africa had to find their way following the coastline and in bad weather it was easy to get lost. Bartholomew Dias encountered this problem when he rounded the Cape in 1488 and named it the Gape of Storms. Not only was there a pressing need for geographical and sky maps but also for a better understanding of the weather. Several early visiting astronomers did much to improve the situation. At the start of the 19th century the British, who had just taken over the Cape, decided to build a permanent observatory. On 20 October 1820 an Order in Council called for the establishment of His Majesty's Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope with the cost being borne by the Navy. The first astronomer, the Rev Fearon Fallows, arrived in 1821 to establish the facility. He started by opening a school for the children of neighbouring farmers and succeeded in having the site levelled by charging a load of earth for each lesson given.

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