Looking through the darkness into the light

When you look up at the stars at night, you can look into the deepest, darkest part of our solar system. Namibia is situated at just the right latitude to look directly at Sagittarius A*, the black hole that is lurking at the centre of our Milky Way galaxy.This special property of Namibia is extremely exciting for astronomers, as it gives them a mostly unobstructed view of Sagittarius A* and allows for the least amount of air mass, which scatters light particles, between us and the Super Massive Black Hole (SMBH). Black holes form from collapsed stars that are hundreds, if not thousands, of times the size of our own sun. Yet even these relatively common black holes pale in size in comparison to SMBH, whose origin is still debated. A leading theory is that they were formed by merging of other, smaller black holes over a long period of time. Black holes are so massive that their gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can escape from them. While we may not yet be able to directly look into a black hole using telescopes, scientists can observe the 'shadow' of a black hole as it consumes the matter around it. This shadow is created by super-heated gasses radiating near and at the 'event horizon' of the black hole as they are consumed. The event horizon is the point at which the gravitational pull of a black hole becomes so powerful that light can no longer escape it. Scientific ImportanceFor scientists, this event horizon represents something that they can detect and therefore image. Observing the very edge of the invisible is something that the upcoming Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT), in collaboration with other observatories from around the world, is trying to do. The proposed radio telescope would form part of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) which incorporates eight other radio telescopes situated in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Antarctica. The inclusion of the AMT into the EHT would not just add another continent to the project, but allow for the creation of a global telescope that has the highest resolution ever observed by man. In an interview with Dr Michael Backes, a senior lecturer of physics at Unam and the head of the HESS Research Unit, he elaborated on this leap in technical ability.“The AMT, in collaboration with the other observatories, will use the technique of Very Long Baseline Interferometry to combine the signals from all telescopes into one image that has a higher resolution than we have ever observed”. This process, which is common in radio astronomy, allows for signals taken of the same object at the same moment in time by different telescopes to be combined as if from one telescope. The developmental aspects of AMTWhile this would represent a significant step forward in the astronomical community, as with all scientific ventures, the issue is funding. Dr Backes estimates that an investment of €10-15 million is needed in order to complete the project, with backing from several European partners. Yet, this investment and collaboration do not only profit the international scientific community. “When the HESS telescopes were being built, all of the ±1000 tonnes of steelwork was fabricated in Namibia and funded by collaborators, while the whole operating of the telescope happens in Namibia”. The AMT will continue to help develop the country's economy. “The challenge with the AMT is that it will be built in the remoteness of the Gamsberg Mountain, so the road leading up to the plateau will have to be widened if not partly rebuilt. Yet even then, the use of helicopters and a temporary cable car may need to be considered to accommodate the needs to complete the project.” This means that the building, completion and operation of the telescope will create new jobs and improve infrastructure in the area. This upcoming project would not be possible without the aid of European investors, and these investments go beyond the actual building of the project. Education and training is also a large part of the funding, with up to €3 million foreseen for initial operation and developmental training. Furthermore, this project has attracted the attention of international agencies and collaborators. Educational MeritThe DARA project (Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy) aims to improve the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) capabilities in Africa, with specific focus on radio astronomy. The project includes training in Namibia, Botswana and South Africa and is funded through the Newton Fund. This is in order to improve the knowledge and hands on capacities of learners, so that they may have the necessary skills to be involved with Radio Astronomy. So far, five Namibian students have participated in the program, with two Namibian graduates being given full funding to complete their postgraduate degrees at the universities of Leeds, Manchester and Oxford in the UK. In addition, two more students are given the opportunity to pursue parts of their studies with the collaboration of the University of Oxford, and to gain some valuable exposure with the greater scientific community. Also, students have represented Namibia at several conferences and talks regarding the development of Astronomy in Namibia and Africa. Dr Backes is very excited about these new opportunities, and believes that they could not have come at a better time. “When I arrived at Unam in 2013, there were only two or three astronomers at the university, with low student numbers at an undergrad level. Since then, we have welcomed two more PhD holders, two PhD and three MSc students in astronomy and the interest at an undergraduate level has increased almost tenfold.“Since millennia people look up at the stars and wonder what is out there and what our place is in this vast expanse. That is why astronomy is so important, it inspires minds.” Dr Backes believes that the only other comparable places in the southern hemisphere, astronomically speaking, are Chile and Argentina. He also believes that Namibia should capitalise on that advantage, so that development and the solving of other problems can occur, in order to create a better Namibia for all.LUCA MILANESI

Looking through the darkness into the light

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

Please login to leave a comment

Looking through the darkness into the light

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-07-02

Please login to leave a comment

Login