Alula: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), in collaboration with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and AlUla Manara team, will organize an educational seminar as part of the 'Journey Through the Stars' series on Sunday, October 12 at 5:00 p.m. at the Education Building.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the seminar will be presented by specialist in physics and astronomy Dr. Thamer Al-Refay and will cover the fundamentals of astronomy and methods for identifying its components. The 'Journey Through the Stars' series is one of the educational initiatives launched by the RCU to raise awareness of astronomy, in collaboration with several entities, including KACST.
The series features various seminars and educational sessions conducted in Arabic, focusing on astronomy, stars, and space science concepts, with an emphasis on connecting astronomical knowledge to the local environment. AlUla is witnessing several pioneering projects in this field, most notably the AlUla Manara observatory project, the first of its kind in the region, as a research and astronomical center that opens new horizons for scientific discoveries.
AlUla is renowned for its dark skies, considered among the clearest in the world. The RCU obtained DarkSky accreditation for the AlUla Manara observatory site and the Gharameel Nature Reserve, marking them as the first certified dark-sky locations in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The recognition reflects the RCU's commitment to promoting astro-tourism and stargazing, as well as supporting space sciences and scientific discoveries.