Hermanus is home to one of only 19 Space Weather Centres in the world. It is part of the function of the SA National Space Agency (SANSA), where I paid a visit recently. These centres are critical for monitoring solar flares that could lead to geo-storms and communication disruptions on earth.

The monitoring set-up is a geeky feast-for-the-eyes! Just have a look at the displays on these screens, while Space Weather Scientist, Teboho Nxele talks us through some of what he does, which includes space weather warnings to our military and the civil aviation industry!