6 Perfect Stargazing Spots in the UAE for Starry Nights
The United Arab Emirates, the country with an incredible futuristic cities, luxurious resorts, and high skyscrapers, is not only about the urban life. Apart from the tall buildings, the UAE has some of the best places for stargazing away from the bustling cities and into the stars. The country has large tracts of desert and arid zones, mountainous regions and quiet coastlines, all of which are perfect for astronomy due to low light pollution and clear skies.
Astronomy lovers throng to these areas to marvel at the stars at night, when the Milky Way, planets and stars are clearly visible. The UAE has a unique location as well as topography; therefore, the opportunities for stargazing vary – from the desert, which may seem rather lonely at night, to the tops of mountains. Whether you are an astronomy enthusiast or you just want to have a good night at the stars, these places provide the best chance to view the heavens.
To those people who want to get away from the bright lights of the cities, the UAE’s stargazing sites provide not only an aesthetic experience but also a learning one. Some of these places have observatories and night sky viewing where you are taken through the night sky by professionals. If you are a tourist in the UAE or planning to visit the region, you should consider the following stargazing sites in the UAE as your next adventure as they provide a blend of the sky and the sandy or mountainous terrains of the UAE.
Here are the 6 Perfect Stargazing Spots in the UAE for Starry Nights
1. Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve
Al Marmoom Desert, situated only a short drive from Dubai is one of the most beautiful and least explored places in the UAE. The Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve focuses on the conservation of the natural desert ecosystem and the area is rather dark for astronomy. This means that with little artificial lighting, you can watch meteor showers, the Milky Way, and countless more constellations. Besides, the desert also has accommodation services where visitors can spend a night in the desert in order to experience the stargazing at night. Astronomy lovers can also participate in stargazing programmes and sky watching events organised by local astronomers.
2. Jebel Jais Mountain
Jebel Jais is also a perfect place for stargazing for all the fans of the height and stunning views. The mountain of Jebel Jais is found in Ras Al Khaimah and has an altitude of 1,934 meters above the sea level and it is the tallest mountain in the country. Away from city lights, situated at a high altitude, it offers an uninterrupted, dark sky view of the heavens. Jebel Jais has a special platform for stargazing where people can get close to telescopes to have a closer look at the stars. At night, you get to see the Milky Way, and other objects such as Jupiter, Saturn, and even the Orion Nebula.
3. Al Qudra Desert
Al Qudra Desert which is located an hour’s drive away from Dubai provides an excellent chance to gaze at the stars in the middle of the desert. There are no city lights around and the huge area of the national park gives excellent opportunities for observing the night sky. It is well known for the campers and the adventure lovers and because of the calm environment of the Al Qudra one can spend a good time while gazing at stars during the night. Although the desert has a clear sky at night to see stars, the visitors can also see some of the wild animals and birds at night, making the desert experience event more enjoyable.
4. Liwa Oasis
Liwa Oasis is situated in the south western region of the UAE, in the Rub’ al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert region. Being one of the biggest uninterrupted sand deserts in the world Liwa has some of the brightest and clearest skies that allow to observe stars. There is very low interference from artificial light at this place, which makes it easy for people to view objects in the night sky. Liwa offers a calm and seclusion, which makes it an ideal place for a Stargazing Spots in the UAE. Tourists can also go sand boarding on the gigantic sand dunes and discover the age old oases within the area, making it a perfect location for both desert fun and astronomy.
5. Fujairah’s East Coast
In contrast to the UAE cities, the eastern coast town of Fujairah is less chaotic and perfect for gazing at the stars. The mountainous terrains together with the quite beaches make it an excellent place for astronomy. The mountains surrounding the area prevent light from other cities to interfere with the night sky and therefore astronomy is a favorite activity. No matter whether you are laying on the beach at night or climbing the mountains, in Fujairah the view of the sky is perfect. For those who want to explore the night sky with directions, there are local stargazing tours which give details on the different constellations and other astronomical features that may be seen in the area.
6. Ras Al Khaimah’s Desert
The last of the seven emirates of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, has many types of deserts that are perfect for star gazing at night. There is no light pollution and the fabulous desert scenery mean that stargazing can take place in its most pristine state. From the serenity of the desert to the starry night skies, Ras Al Khaimah is perfect for anyone who wants to get closer to nature. Most visitors prefer night trips where by the guides provide visitors with telescopes to view the planets, stars and galaxies.
Conclusion
Due to the availability of large tracts of open land, high altitude and remote desert areas, the UAE is one of the best places for astronomical observation. Lack of light pollution in many parts of the UAE makes the country a perfect place for sky gazing no matter whether a person is a newcomer to astronomy or a professional. However, the UAE has observatories to include the Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Science where people can enjoy stargazing, workshops and exhibitions. Not only do these events help you learn more about astronomy, but they also offer you an opportunity to meet like-minded people.
The rich infrastructure of the country together with the natural landscapes of the UAE reveals the possibility to open the starry sky to tourists. If you want to observe planets, meteor showers or simply want to have a peaceful night watching the sky then UAE has some of the best places for astronomy.
It’s possible to gaze at the stars from the desert of Al Marmoom to the mountain of Jebel Jais, and these stargazing locations in the UAE are rather peculiar. No matter if you are a beginner in astronomy or an experienced observer, these places will not leave you indifferent and will let you make incredible shots. The Best Attractions in the UAE are not limited to the lively cities, and these stargazing destinations will give a new meaning to the night sky for anyone who is interested.
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