ASTRONOC (Astronomical Observation Centre) aims to establish near earth observation facilities for research and education in space object and debris optical tracking.  Through its partnerships with the Purple Mountain Observatory, a member of the Chinese Academy of Science, and the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, a member of the International Scientific Optical Network, it has established its first observation facility near the town of Bonnievale in the Western Cape.  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 comprise fully automatic large field-of-view optical telescopes to carry out operational surveys of space debris in the geosynchronous orbit.

​

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