Sharjah Media Centre Team Visits Centre for Astronomy...

A team of Sharjah Media Centre staff led by Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), visited the Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences (SCASS) at the University of Sharjah on Sunday as part of the efforts to familiarise the SMC staff with various institutions in the Emirate and strengthen relations with other government entities and stakeholders.

A team of Sharjah Media Centre staff led by Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of Sharjah Media Centre (SMC), visited the Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences (SCASS) at the University of Sharjah on Sunday as part of the efforts to familiarise the SMC staff with various institutions in the Emirate and strengthen relations with other government entities and stakeholders.

The SMC team was received and briefed about the history, objectives and various functions of the SCASS by senior officials, including Ibrahim A Al-Jarwan, Assistant Director (PR), Marwan A. Shwaiki, Planetarium Manager, and Mohammed F. Talafha, Observatory Specialist. The senior SCASS officials conducted a detailed tour of the planetarium and observatory, the first and largest of its kind in the Middle East, for the visiting SMC delegation.

Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Saeed Allay, Director of SMC, thanked the SCASS management for the interesting guided tour of the facility and insights offered into the latest proud project of the Emirate.

The Director of SMC said that the visit is part of the Centre's efforts to turn the spotlight on various Sharjah institutions and facilities that make all of us truly proud of the Emirate's strong cultural, intellectual and scientific legacy. The planetarium and observatory at the University of Sharjah, which celebrates and bolsters the UAE's ambitious space programme, is yet another feather in the Emirate's cap, added Tariq Saeed Allay.

The SCASS was inaugurated in May 2015 by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah, as part of Sharjah's celebrations as the Islamic Culture Capital for 2014.

The SCASS is aimed at developing and offering education about astronomy and space sciences in the Arab World in general and the UAE in particular in order to be a destination for science, research, heritage, education and tourism for students, scholars and families of all ages. Associated with the University of Sharjah, the world-class facility includes a Planetarium, an Astronomy Exhibition, a Space Exhibition, an Exhibition of the Universe in the Holy Qur'an, an Astronomical Observatory and a Cosmic Park.

Since it opened last year, the Centre has been attracting hundreds of visitors every day, especially from schools and colleges across the UAE. The Centre offers a number of shows for the benefit of visitors, including the Dawn of Space Age, Deen Al Qayyima, Astronauts, Zula Patrol, Black Holes, Super Volcanoes, Oasis in Space, Undiscovered Worlds and Dynamic Earth, offering both education and entertainment.

The 25-minute show Deen Al Qayyima is most popular. It was a gift from HH the Ruler of Sharjah. He provided the idea of the scenario of this film talking about the universe from the Big Bang to the end of the universe.

The 209-seat Planetarium offers a whole new perspective of the universe and its billions of stars and planets. One can see stars and planets projected onto the inside of a large dome on an opt-mechanical megastar system and observe celestial motion. The Cosmic Park includes large models of planets and telescopic observation points.

The University of Sharjah, which hosts the SCASS, is also planning to start a master's degree in Astronomy and Space Sciences from the next academic year. To support the research being conducted at UoS/SCASS, several new labs are also under construction.

The SCASS facility is open to public, from Saturday to Wednesday. Details are available at http://www.scass.ae/en/Pages/default.aspx

LINK:	http://www.sharjahmedia.ae/en/media-centre/news/23/5/2016/sharjah-medi...
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