Berto Monard discovered his 100th supernova on 19 June. He is the second amateur astronomer in the world and the first in the Southern Hemisphere to discover 100 supernovas.

The Bronberg’s world-famous amateur astronomer made this string of supernova discoveries over nine years from his Bronberg Observatory on plot 39, Rietfontein, in the Bronberg Conservancy.

This observatory is situated 90 m from Berto and his wife, Brigitte’s house on top of the Bronberg ridge with an unobstructed view to the northern and eastern horizons, where light pollution is minimal. The observatory is shielded from the worst part of the light pollution from Pretoria, Johannesburg and Kempton Park by a hill behind the house.

Berto, who has been described as a one-man-Southern-Hemisphere-supernova-factory, started stargazing as a hobby in 1990.