About us​

​ASTRONOC (Astronomical Observation Centre), in partnership with Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, established its first Space Object Optical Tracking station in 2020 near the town of Bonnievale in the Western Cape, aimed at near-earth observation research in optical tracking of space satellites, debris and asteroids. 

​The partnership was was extended in 2023 to include an optical telescope under the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON).  This is the first such facility in South Africa to contribute to the global effort on Space Debris coordinated by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee.  The facilities comprises fully automatic large field-of-view optical telescopes to carry out operational surveys of satellites and space debris in the near-earth orbits, and will be expanded in 2025 to include a 1-meter telescope for asteroid research.

​The main aim is to study the impact of space debris on space activities, which is attracting increasing attention globally. Many organisations involved in space science and technology, in particular satellite technology, have started to develop programmes and projects aimed at negating the effects of space debris. Particular attention is focused on the geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), a scarce resource for space activity.  The GEO ring is known to contain large amounts of debris as a result of past space activities, and this situation will worsen over future years.  Hence, space debris analysis and the development of knowledge related to the astrodynamics and mechanics of non-celestial bodies in space, has become an important focus, prompting the need for observation facilities for monitoring satellites and debris generated by satellite activity. 

​In 2021, ASTRONOC hosted the first meteor detection cameras in Africa linked to the Global Meteor Network, and in collaboration with Purple Mountain Observatory, has now established a fireball network based on the Allsky7 meteor camera systems, comprising five nodes across the Western Cape.  ​

​ASTRONOC is a fully privately-funded and owned initiative, and is registered with the South African Council for Space Affairs.