Perfect Spots for Stargazing in the UAE

Are you crazy about astronomy? Are you in love with the galaxies, planets and stars? Well then, stargazing is something you should go for. UAE offers the best of outdoor activities to its tourists and there are many spots in the UAE which will bring you all the stargazing experience.

Here is the list of best spots for Stargazing that you can experience at the different places in the UAE:

Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre

The Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre is a great place to watch the sun and other stars through the telescope.

• The Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre has one of the largest telescopes to look at the heavenly bodies.
• It also offers an experience in solar observation to watch the Solar Flares and Sunspots.
• Your love of space and astronomy will lead you to this astronomy centre to watch the galaxies, stars and planets.
• Innovative programs are introduced for schools.
• The telescope observation of stars and planets in the night sky with the best and the most modern telescopes is AED 20 for 10 minutes.
• The price of having an astronomical experience at the planetarium is AED 20 for 20 minutes.
• At the Astro Cinema you can view astronomy and non-astronomy documentaries and movies.
• Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre is located in Mushrif Park, on the outskirts of Dubai.

Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences

The centre was opened in 2015 with one telescope and a small observatory. Now it has grown and you can observe the planets, stars and galaxies and moon here. It is involved in space research.

• Here you can look at the brightest views of the sky.
• You may enjoy the planetarium shows from the night sky tours to explore in astronomy and also learn about the galactic system.
• You can gain a lot of insight into the astronomical sciences and learn about the future missions for exploring the solar system.
• Special events like stargazing nights, astronomy festivals are participated each year.
• The location is Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Rd at the University City in Sharjah, UAE.
• The timings are 9 am to 3 pm and 4 pm to 7.30 pm.

Rub Al Khali Desert

The Rub Al Khali desert, also the world’s largest sea of sand is a large stretch in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. It is also known as the Empty Quarter and it has a lot of stargazing spots.

• The place is good for stargazing activity and you can connect to groups who carry on such activities.
• You may head for this place if you want to watch the next meteor shower or Lunar and Solar Eclipses for that matter.
• You may also watch the deep sky objects and planets in the quiet spots in deserts and mountains free from any noise and pollution.
• The people arranging this troop will carry all your equipment there and the guides will set up a camp.
• There is arrangement for even getting served your dinner while you relax under the stars and stargaze.

Hatta

Hatta, located in the Dubai outskirts and nestled in the Hajjar mountains is one of the best places for stargazing.

• This is a mountain enclave in Dubai which is a great for stargazing when you go deeper into the mountains where it is dark and deep.
• Hatta also has a lot of hotels for good accommodation.
• This is where you can view the Galactic Centre and the Milky Way.
• Besides stargazing, there are other adventure activities you can perform here like kayaking, biking and hiking.
• This is far from the light pollution to be found in cities and you can bask into the celestial wonders looking up to the stars and the distant galaxies every night.
• It is the altitude and the low humidity factors that enhance the stargazing experience here.
• You may come prepared with telescope and binoculars for a closer vision of the celestial objects like the Big Dipper and the Orion and also the other planetary bodies.
• Astrophotography is also a good option here and guided night sky tours are carried on at the astronomy workshops here.
• Remote areas in the mountain are the perfect spots away from sources of artificial lights such the peaks and the valleys.

The Al Quaa Milky Way Spot

The Al Quaa Milky Way Spot, which is two hours from the Abu Dhabi desert is a very popular and well-known spot for stargazing.

• This spot is great for stargazing ,because it is one of the darkest places in the night sky of the United Arab Emirates.
• The silence and the openness of the place makes it one of the most popular stargazing places in the UAE.
• The Milky Way which is actually a shaft of light that looks astonishingly beautiful due to the starlight forming the galaxy, can be seen quite clearly with the naked eye from here.
• You may come equipped with a DSLR camera for shooting photographs of the star-studded sky.
• Other telescope accessories and eyepieces might be of help in the stargazing experiences.
• Stargazing can be best viewed during a meteor shower which often happen at the same time every year.
• The best time to visit is during a moonless night, for clear skies and during cooler months.

Al Sadeem Astronomy Observatory

The Al Sadeem Astronomy Observatory is located in Al Wathba, near the Al Wathba stables, Abu Dhabi, UAE. It has an observatory where a telescope is mounted inside a dome of 5.5 metres.

• The Al Sadeem Observatory has been offering stargazing experience to the avid stargazers through curated and guided tours on stargazing.
• This astronomy centre had started as a private project but it has now gained a lot of popularity and it is a centre for students and stargazers from all over the world.
• The centre has all sizes of telescopes and good arrangements of kitchen and lavatory for students and stargazers.
• Events here are generally held according to the calendar.
• The Cosmic Cube is a new project developed by the Al Sadeem Astronomy Centre which gives the stargazers an opportunity to tour the galaxy, star clusters and the Nebula.
• The timings are from 9 am to 5 pm.

Desert Stargazing

• Stargazing is best in the desert because it is far from the city lights and the sky is truly dark so that the stars are the brightest.
• The desert air is clear so that the stars are vivid.
• The stargazing atmosphere is the best in the desert for its quietness and serenity.
• The open space of the desert allows you to have panoramic view like the planetariums.
• Stargazing is not a part of the desert safari package; rather it is an add on which you can choose.
• The stargazing moments in the desert, along with the night, the cool breeze blowing and the great canopy of stars overhead are memories to cherish forever.
• Stargazing sessions are accompanied by guidance of trained professionals so that you can spot the galaxies, the constellations and so on.

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Conclusion

Stargazing in the desert is a special immersive experience to cherish the rest of our lives. It is not only watching a cluster of stars. It is also about the ambiance created in the quietness of the mountains, in the serenity of the desert and in the mystery of the valleys where you can bask in the glories of the stargazing experience. It is the wonderful celestial dance which you partake in when you lift your head upwards, gazing at the magic of the night sky, laden with galaxies and heavenly bodies.