SlideShow

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT)

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere and among the largest in the world. It has a hexagonal primary mirror array 11 metres across, comprising 91 individual 1.2m hexagonal mirrors. SALT has a redesigned optical system resulting in a larger field of view and effective collecting area.

What is the SKA?

The SKA will be a revolutionary radio telescope made of thousands of receivers linked together across an area the size of a continent. The total collecting area of all the SKA receivers combined will be approximately one square kilometre, making the SKA the largest and most sensitive radio telescope ever built.

Without E=MC2 GPS Would Malfunction

The satellite navigation in your car or on your phone relies on a series of geostationary satellites to pinpoint your location, exchanging data using radio waves. Because of the theory of relativity, the speed at which the satellites’ onboard clocks tick is around 38,000 nanoseconds faster than clocks on the ground. Every time data is sent to the receiving device, a calculation must be applied to correct the timings to within the required 20-30 nanosecond accuracy.

Plasma Physics

What are the states of matter? Besides liquid, solid and gas, there is a fourth, less commonly understood state: plasma. Plasmas are created when the electrons surrounding an atom are stripped off by a strong external magnetic field or extreme temperatures. These extreme conditions exist inside the Sun as well as in many other astrophysical situations. Astronomers must study complex computer simulations to understand how these structures evolve and behave.

Space Weather

Weather isn’t just an earthly phenomenon. The solar wind created by the changing surface and magnetosphere of the Sun can wreak havoc on the electronics of satellites and electrical systems on Earth. It is responsible for the aurorae as well! Scientists at facilities like the SANSA station in Hermanus use ground and space based observatories to help predict the state of the space weather and mitigate their detrimental effects.

Application Procedure

The 2018 admission cycle is now open and will close on 31 August 2017.

On behalf of the NASSP consortium you are invited to apply for the NASSP Honours and Masters programmes in Astrophysics and Space Science.

Application Checklist:

The NASSP programme is offered in three universities, University of Cape Town (UCT), University of Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) and North West University (NWU Potchestroom Campus)
Complete the University of your choice application forms before completing the NASSP application form.

UCT online application form

UKZN application link

NWU application link

Use the reference/applicant number on your NASSP applicaton.
Complete

NASSP online application form

Quote your respective university applicant number or reference number, Please ensure all neccessary documents as outlined below are included in your application.
Full Curriculum Vitae giving permanent address and telephone/fax numbers, date of birth, full names, nationality, educational history up to present date, employment history (if any) up to present date, details of computer systems and software packages used to date, details of research publications (if any) up to present date.

Names, addresses, fax numbers, telephone numbers and e-mail address (if possible) of at least two referees who can comment on your academic ability, suitability for postgraduate study, and also give a confidential personal evaluation of your sense of initiative and computer literacy.

Undergraduate academic transcript showing marks for each course taken in each year. This should be a photocopy of the original, but the photocopy should have an original stamp certifying that it is a true copy of the original transcript. Certified copies of transcripts of any subsequent postgraduate qualifications should also be included here.

If you are applying for the Masters programme also include a certified copy of the original degree certificate (and any subsequent qualifications mentioned above).

A letter of motivation, outlining why you choose to apply for a place on the NASSP, what your long-term career aspirations are, and how you think the successful completion of the NASSP will benefit those aspirations.
Please address any problems or dificulties when applying to support(at)nassp.uct.ac.za