There is no doubting that five-star Dubai hotels are some of the finest in the world. It’s no surprise, given that Dubai, one of the world’s hotspots right now, is known for their expertise in providing otherworldly experiences in comfort, luxury, and hospitality. With splendid beaches, world-class shopping, and a lively urban culture that is growing, there is much to recommend Dubai as a tourist destination.
It is becoming lately something of a gem of a city for star-gazing as well. There are plenty of opportunities to catch a glimpse of some of the coolest movie stars from Hollywood and Bollywood, and television personalities from the UAE, all of whom are favoring Dubai as a vacation spot, or a place for a second home. But it’s also a magnificent place for that other kind of star-gazing, the original kind!
President of the Dubai Astronomy Group, Ahmad Al Hariri offers classes for children every Thursday with instruction on stargazing techniques, and lessons in formal astronomy. These lessons are offered throughout the summer, and are not simply a fun or educational way for kids to spend their summer nights, but they are also a deep part of Arab cultural heritage. The sun and the moon figure prominently in the spiritual daily life here, and stars have also played a dominant role. There is also the long tradition of navigation, through the desert and across the sea, by star, and some of the most proficient astronomers in the ancient and contemporary worlds come from here.
Children can take part in this long tradition, then, and find out more about the night sky. Thanks to the generosity of Thuraya (Satellite Telcom), the Dubai Astronomy Group has a Mead telescope. The classes are taught with this valuable tool, so that children in the region can take part in learning about the role the stars play in teaching us where we are, and where we’re going.
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