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Video Contact

Peter Kleppin

Video Producer

University Communications

University of Wisconsin–Madison

peter.kleppin@wisc.edu

608-262-8292

Editorial Contact

Kelly Tyrrell

Science Writer

University Communications

University of Wisconsin–Madison

kelly.tyrrell@wisc.edu

608-262-9772

Photo Contact

Jeff Miller

Senior Photographer

University Communications

University of Wisconsin–Madison

jeff.miller@wisc.edu

608-262-0067

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Southern African Large Telescope under a starry sky with a visible Milky Way Southern African Large Telescope under a starry sky with a visible Milky Way The Southern African Large Telescope dome's shutter is open and the nighttime sky reveals a few stars, the silhouette of the struts are clear. A dramatic exterior of Southern African Large Telescope at sunset. A broad view of the interior of Southern African Large Telescope, the shutter is partway open. A broader view of the interior of Southern African Large Telescope, showing an open shutter with light entering. A view from the bottom of the payload and tracker, which resides at the top of the Southern Africa Large Telescope. Closeup of mirrors in the interior of Southern African Large Telescope. An assembly of mirrors at Southern African Large Telescope, supported by a truss at the bottom. Interior shot of the Southern Africa Large Telescope from above, looking down showing a structure of struts. A nighttime long exposure of Southern African Large Telescope showing a sky filled with stars and the Milky Way Galaxy. UW astronomy professor Eric Wilcots and graduate student Julie Davis take in the immensity of the SALT interior A dramatic scene of South Africa at dusk with mountains in the background, deep yellow hues, rocks and low brush in the foreground. Landscape of wine country near Cape Town with mountain in the background, power lines in foreground. The paved road to the Southern African Large Telescope, showing smaller dome shaped structures and little vegetation around them. Big blue sky. A boy pauses on his bicycle on a dusty rode in Sutherland, South Africa. Trees, a few houses, blue sky. Rock sample from the Barberton core showing a closeup of orange and dark red striations Rows of rock samples aligned in a metal tray. Approximately a dozen Barberton rock core samples with white numbers written on each. Herve Wabo looks at a rock sample in his hand Closeup of rock samples from the Barberton core, with two holes drilled out of them, and a finger pointing to the striated colors A special instrument holds a circular rock core. Microscopic specimen of Zircon Closeup of pond scum, multicolored and abstract in shape. Closeup of pond scum, brighter and multicolored and abstract in shape. Nic Beukes's hands point to a dark black core sample, trays of samples are out of focus but visible in the background. Trays of rock core samples aligned and labeled, showing depth. The samples are striated in grays, oranges, deep oranges. Closeup of rock specimen with dark red and brown layers Sideview of a cast of an ancient skull Landscape view above the Rising Star Cave at sunrise, golden wheeat colors, gentle slopes in background, a small danger sign in the foreground. A selection of skulls on a table at the Maropeng Museum Historical black and white photo of John Robinson (student) and Robert Broom (teacher) at the mouth of a cave. A skull and a bone embedded in breccia, a type of stone. Looking down at the archaeological site from a hilltop, a few people can be seen walking around the site on a bright day. Five field school students at the bottom of a shallow archaeological site digging on a bright day. Travis Pickering descends a ladder into a cave Support wooden beams within a cave, a ladder ascending to the light University of the Witwatersrand field assistant Andrew Moyagabo Phaswana and UW-Madison student Emmaleigh Grady use a sifting screen to sort for potential artifacts. UW-Madison student Talia Sankari uses a sifting screen to sort for potential artifacts University of the Witwatersrand graduate student Recognise Sambo University of the Witwatersrand postdoctoral researcher Matt Caruana points out the hammered-edges of a middle-stone age point Two skulls being held in two hands. UW-Madison archaeology field school student Talia Sankari looks at hominid fossils housed at the Phillip V. Tobias Fossil Primate and Hominid Laboratory -- also known as "the bone vault" -- during a visit to the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg Exterior view of the Maropeng Museum in South Africa, a mounded structure in the background, visitors milling in the foreground on a bright day. Skull of a homo naledi specimen in the Maropeng Museum Julie Davis in the interior of the Southern Africa Large Telescope telescope Eric Wilcots Lisa Crause Manxoyi Sivuyile Nicolas Beukes Clark Johnson John Valley Travis PIckering Ronald J Clarke John Hawks poses in front of a cave. University of the Witwatersrand archeologist Kathleen Kuman introduces students from a visiting UW–Madison-led archaeological field school to stone-tool artifacts Group shot of 10 smiling female students posing outdoors in South Africa.