The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) is the
largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere,
with a hexagonal mirror array 11 metres across.
Although very similar to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) in Texas,
SALT has a redesigned optical system using more of the mirror array.
It will be able to record distant stars, galaxies and quasars a billion
times too faint to be seen with the unaided eye -
as faint as a candle flame at the distance of the moon.

The construction of SALT has been completed, funded by a
consortium of international partners from South Africa,
the United States, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom
and New Zealand. It is now in its commissioning phase.