| Union Observatory | |
|---|---|
| Code | 078 |
| Location | Observatory, Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Altitude | 1,808 meters (5,932 feet)[1] |
| Established | 1903 |
| Closed | 1971-1972 |
Union Observatory was an astronomical observatory located in the suburb Observatory, Johannesburg, South Africa. It bears IAU code 078.
Known as the Transvaal Observatory in its early years, it became the Republic Observatory in 1961. Well remembered for the quality of its Directors, work done on minor planets and the discovery of Proxima Centauri, growing light pollution problems in Johannesburg led to its closure in 1971-1972.
At that time the South African government decided to amalgamate all astronomical research into one body, which later became known as the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO); it has its headquarters in Cape Town and has Sutherland as its outstation. The main Cape telescopes were moved to Sutherland, and the Radcliffe Observatory at Pretoria was also dismantled.
Union Observatory went through a number of name changes:
Its directors were: