Astronomy enthusiasts participate in an astronomical observation night in Damascus

Damascus - Sana

The Syrian Astronomical Society held this evening an astronomical observation night for the moon, Saturn and Jupiter at its observatory headquarters in the Lady Fatima al-Zahra complex in Damascus, with the participation of more than 200 amateur astronomers.

The Chairman of the Society’s Board of Directors, Dr. Muhammad Al-Asiri, said in a statement to SANA reporter that this activity comes within the framework of the World Space Week, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, and falls annually between the 4th and 10th of October of each year, and it comes within the activities of 100 hours. From the astronomy set up by the International Astronomical Union.

Al-Asiri explained that Jupiter will rise in the east opposite the setting sun, which means that the planet will appear opposite the sun, and the approach of this planet rarely coincides with the encounter with the sun, and this event will not be repeated again until the year 2139, which will make it appear brighter and larger in The sky is close to the earth.

Al-Asiri indicated that Jupiter entered the planet as of September 24 at its closest point to Earth for the first time in 59 years, which will make it appear brighter and larger in the sky, and the entire night in the sky will remain sparkling, and for about a month at this distance, He pointed out that October 4 is the anniversary of the launch of the first Soviet satellite, and October 10 is the date of signing the International Space Treaty.

Al-Asiri pointed out the importance of the observation night as a scientific and social activity, and it was chosen today, because it is a holiday to allow the largest number of astronomy enthusiasts to participate, as they were able to monitor Jupiter at its closest point to Earth, and watch the very beautiful rings of Saturn at this time, due to the lack of illumination of the spring moon. The first that started with the first quadrature phase, that is, in the crescent phase.

A number of members of the Society’s Board of Directors gave an explanation for the amateurs who were distributed to the main telescope of the Society’s observatory, the secondary telescopes, and the screens provided by the Society, to follow up the monitoring process around the Moon, Jupiter and its satellites, Saturn and its rings.

Mohamed Emad Al-Daghly

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