Starry Sky above SALT

The dome of the South African Large Telescope (SALT) appears silhouetted by the Milky Way and the center of our galaxy, rising in the east. The constellation Scorpius rises prominently above the telescope dome and a meteor suddenly appears to the left of the dome. The exceptionally dark skies are ideal for the observatory, which is located approximately 300 kilometers north east of Cape Town, South Africa. The SALT telescope is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. The telescope mirror measures 11 meters across and is made up of 91 hexagonal mirror segments. © John Goldsmith