Skip to main content
Support
Blog post

Ethiopia: Astronomy Observatory and Plans for Exploration

Marakele National Park Stars

French Translation of the Week

The conquest of space is unlike any other competition: there are the historically significant actors (the U.S., Russia), the "outsiders" (China, India), and the unexpected new players, such as Ethiopia.  On October 19, this country opened the biggest astronomy observatory in its class in East Africa.  As explained by Solomon Belay, its director, it is outfitted with two telescopes that are one meter in diameter "which will enable the observation of new planets, different types of stars, and far-away galaxies."  Positioned at an altitude of 3,200 meters, in the hills of Entoto, just north of Addis Ababa, it is conveniently located, according to the experts.

La conquête de l'espace, c'est un peu comme n'importe quelle compétition : il y a des poids lourds (États-Unis, Russie), des outsiders (Chine, Inde) et des nouveaux, que l'on n'a pas vu venir, comme... l'Éthiopie. Le 19 octobre, ce pays a ouvert le plus grand observatoire astronomique de classe internationale d'Afrique de l'Est. Comme l'explique Solomon Belay, son directeur, il est équipé de deux télescopes de 1 mètre de diamètre chacun, "qui serviront à observer de nouvelles planètes, différents types d'étoiles et de lointaines galaxies". Perché à 3 200 m d'altitude, dans les collines d'Entoto, au nord d'Addis-Abeba, il bénéficie d'un emplacement idéal, selon les experts.

This article has been translated from French. Click here to read the original version on Jeune Afrique.

Funded by Mohammed Al Amoudi, an Ethiopian-Saudi billionaire, for a total of 2.5 million euros, it will be managed by the Ethiopian Society of Space Sciences (ESSS), established in 2004.  In Africa, only Nigeria, Algeria, and Egypt have their own space agencies.

Opening a second observatory

For the Ethiopian government, this is only the first step in what appears to be a more and more attainable political goal: the opening of the next observatory, promotion of astronomical research and several other ambitions, such as the launch of a satellite studying meteorology within three years, or – who knows? – the first man in unchartered space, an "abyss-onaut."

Article translated by Allie Stauss, Staff Intern for the Program on Leadership and Building State Capacity at the Wilson Center.

Photo attributed to Martin_Heigan via Flickr Commons.

Related Program

Africa Program

The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations.    Read more