Atop the northern mountains overlooking Addis Ababa perched the Ethiopian Observatory and Research Center, promising to become a beacon of the nation’s technological aspirations. The facility at the Akako Mana Abichu area, is guiding the country into the 21st century and beyond.
“This is Ethiopia’s version of NASA,” says Girma Dejene, Coordinator of the Center under the Space and Geospatial Institute of the Ministry of Technology and Innovation. On the morning of August 20, 2024, as the dense mist lifted from the highlands, a panoramic view of Sululta and the sprawling capital, Addis Ababa, unfolded beneath the Center.
Located in Mana Abichu Sub-city within the Sheger city administration of the Oromia region, the site was chosen for its altitude and lack of light pollution—critical factors for both stargazing and geospatial data analysis.
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But the Center’s mission goes beyond scientific observation. “Astro-tourism is one of our key objectives,” says Girma. “University and high school students regularly visit, captivated by the wonders of the universe.”
The site has also drawn international visitors, particularly from South Korea, Russia, and China. The Center’s two one-diameter optical telescopes, housed in domes, are the only instruments of their kind in East Africa, according to the technical staff.
Ethiopia’s connection to the stars is not new. “In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus of Ethiopia,” reads a description from Michigan State University. “The Andromeda constellation contains the Andromeda Galaxy, a companion to our Milky Way, visible to the naked eye under clear, dark skies.”
Last December, the Center hosted an international workshop for astronomers, organized by the International Astronomical Union. The IAU honored Ethiopia in 2019 by naming a star after “Abol,” the first of three rounds in the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
Visitors are greeted by a giant ground installation of the Milky Way, symbolizing the vastness of the universe. “Constructed under our ‘Space for Peace’ program, this installation aims to instil in young visitors a sense of the enormity of the cosmos, encouraging them to think beyond provincial boundaries,” Girma explains.
Though currently resembling a deserted outpost due to ongoing repairs and nearby infrastructure work linked to the tightly guarded Chaka City Project—a multi-billion-dollar new “Smart city” initiative spearheaded by the Prime Minister—the Center remains vital. It houses the Ground Control Room for Ethiopia’s first satellite, ERSS-1, launched in December 2019. While ERSS-1 has completed its mission, the control dome has been repurposed for other geospatial data missions, ensuring the Center continues to play a crucial role in Ethiopia’s space ambitions.
Another critical component of the Center is its Asteroid Control and Tracking system, designed to provide early warnings of potentially hazardous phenomena, like the event that struck Jimma and its surrounding areas in south-western Ethiopia last month. This system is supported by Russia, reflecting international collaboration in Ethiopia’s space endeavors.
The Center also hosts a Pan-African Training Facility focused on Astrophysics and Geospatial Information Science, which operates in partnership with leading technology universities across Ethiopia. This training center is integral to building regional expertise in these advanced scientific fields.
Recently, the Center completed a new Satellite Ground Control Facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology. “Around 20 stations within the Control Center will continuously gather geospatial data,” Girma noted, emphasizing that this information is crucial for the planning and execution of development projects.
“Ethiopia has already begun leveraging geospatial data for various development, security, and environmental initiatives,” he added. One notable example is the Green Legacy Initiative, for which the Center provided detailed geospatial information to track the locations of every tree seedling planted across the country.
According to Girma, the Observatory lays the foundation for the next generation to engage in space science, including astrophysics, while striving to keep pace with global advancements in our understanding of the universe. Despite the strides we’ve made, he says humans have only explored and understood less than five percent of the universe, underscoring the vast potential for discovery.
One of the Center’s most captivating attractions is a simulation dome, offering visitors a virtual journey through space, among stars and galaxies. “This experience serves as a powerful source of inspiration for students visiting the Center,” Girma explained.
While the Center has made significant progress since its establishment in 2015, there is still ample room for expansion. “The Entoto Observatory is continually evolving, with ongoing improvements to its facilities and infrastructure,” Girma noted. The Observatory is poised to enhance the capabilities of Ethiopian and East African astronomers while also bolstering research programs and student training initiatives.
However, plans to build a research center at a site in Lalibela, in northern Ethiopia, have faced setbacks. Early infrastructure and equipment installed at the location were destroyed during the Tigray conflict, delaying the project indefinitely. In response, a new site is being prepared in the Wollaita area of southern Ethiopia.
The Entoto Observatory and Space Science Research Center, which began operations in 2012 following its initiation by the Ethiopian Space Science Society in 2004, features twin one-meter telescopes installed in early 2014, with scientific operations commencing in 2015. The Observatory is currently funded by a consortium of universities, the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), and the Ethiopian government.
Sources close to the Center revealed that it enjoys close attention from Ethiopia’s Prime Minister. In recent years, several high-profile foreign guests, including the Emir of Abu Dhabi, have reportedly been taken on tours of the site, highlighting its significance as a symbol of Ethiopia’s growing role in space science.
