SA joins world astronomy body

"It is expected to act as an additional mechanism in promoting the growth of science in South Africa, with developmental benefits well beyond the field of radio astronomy," Pillay said. South Africa has long provided data to JIVE through its Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory.

JIVE, or the Joint Institute for Very Long Baseline Interferometry, is an international institute, operating in various fields of galactic and extragalactic radio astronomy, planetary and space sciences, News24 reports. The NRF's membership of JIVE, Pillay said, recognised the country's contribution to European data from the Hartebeesthoek Observatory and the newly built radio astronomy facility KAT-7 in the Karoo.

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