The Oman Astronomical Society’s observatory on Jabal Shams has entered a new phase with the launch of a project to develop it into the society’s first fully robotic astronomical observatory, which can be operated and controlled remotely. The project was implemented with support from Petroleum Development Oman, under the patronage of Minister of Heritage and Tourism Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, with the aim of expanding the observatory’s use for scientific research, education and astronomical observation.
Robotic system manages observations remotely
The robotic system enables the telescopes and dome to be operated and observation activities to be monitored automatically, without requiring the observer to be on site. The development also aims to address problems that previously affected the observatory’s operations, including dust and humidity, and to improve its ability to serve researchers, students and those interested in astronomy and space science.
The development work included replacing the previous dome with a modern dome that opens and closes automatically and can be programmed and managed remotely. The observatory has also been equipped with a high-quality main optical telescope with a diameter of 16 inches, designed to observe details of distant celestial objects, including nebulae, galaxies and star clusters.
A telescope specialised in solar observation was added to the system, enabling the monitoring of sunspots, solar eruptions and prominences, along with a wide-field telescope for surveying large areas of the sky. The latter telescope is used to observe extended astronomical phenomena and track comets. The observatory has also been equipped with a high-performance computer for image processing and managing remote-control operations, and connected to a high-speed internet service.
Weather station protects observatory equipment
Its equipment includes a smart weather station that measures temperature and humidity and sends automatic commands to the dome to close it when rain falls or humidity levels rise, helping to protect the observation equipment. Majid bin Mohammed Al Faraei, director of astronomical projects at the Oman Astronomical Society, said the new system enables researchers, students and society members to control the telescopes and monitor and photograph astronomical phenomena from anywhere in the world.
This makes it possible to conduct observations and benefit from their data without being physically present on Jabal Shams. According to the project organisers, the observatory’s functions include monitoring the crescents of Hijri months, meteors, comets and solar activity, as well as providing a training environment for young people and those interested in astronomy and space.
Since 2009, Jabal Shams has hosted more than 17 family, Gulf and Arab astronomy camps, in addition to more than 20 specialist workshops and camps. Mahmoud bin Said Al Amri, a member of the society’s board and chairman of its support and investment committee, said the project gives school, college and university students the opportunity to experience observing and photographing astronomical events.
Project expands student training and event support
He added that it also supports national personnel and small and medium-sized enterprises involved in organising scientific events and camps. Minister of Heritage and Tourism Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi described the project as a model of partnership between tourism and scientific initiatives, noting that Jabal Shams’ dark skies could help support scientific tourism and stargazing activities.
The launch ceremony saw the unveiling of the ‘Oman’s Night Sky’ initiative, a national initiative aimed at exploring, documenting and protecting the Sultanate’s night sky, while highlighting its natural, scientific, cultural and tourism value. The initiative seeks to turn the sky’s natural, cultural and astronomical value into a sustainable resource serving science, tourism, society, the environment and the economy.
Ali bin Amer Al Shaibani, the initiative’s general supervisor, said its aim was to turn this natural resource into a sustainable value serving people, the environment and the economy, with the ambition of making Oman a global destination for astronomical tourism. The initiative seeks to bring together photographers, researchers, astronomy enthusiasts, institutions, the private sector and local communities around this effort.
In the Arab world, the project was preceded by the observatory of the Qatar Exoplanet Survey programme, ‘Al-Khamsi’, affiliated with Hamad Bin Khalifa University, which was considered the first Arab robotic observatory. The programme was spread across three sites in New Mexico, Spain and China, and discovered ten exoplanets.
It was followed by the Oukaïmeden Observatory in Morocco, a research observatory operated by Cadi Ayyad University and globally available for astronomical research, and then the Al Khatim Observatory in the UAE, which conducts pre-programmed astronomical observations.
