Dubai Astronomy

[2STAR]

December 2nd 2017 was the opening of the 50 million Dirhams, Althuraya Astronomy Centre in Dubai with its 1 metre Mirror Telescope, it has an Academy with Classrooms and a Hundred Seater Theatre and outside observation deck, with landscaped gardens in the shape of Constellations, the 2,696 sq metre building is located in Al Mushrif Park, the Dubai Society has some 7,000 members and plans are in place to open the  Marmoun Astronomy Resort, a dark sky resort 40 kilometre from the City, where Researchers and Tourists can view the night sky as it was before LP.

There are also plans in place for two projects

An observatory on the Hatta Mountains for 2019

and -- for 2117 a City on Mars, yes,  they usually do what they promise in the UAE.

Eric

[LukeSkywatcher]

Sand cant be good for a telescope mirror.

[Peter Drew]

I think thermal activity will be interesting. Nice project though!.   ?