In an interview with Al Khaleej newspaper, Professor Hamid M.K. Al Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and President of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), said that upon the directives and vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, the Sharjah Center for Space Sciences and Astronomy (SCSSA) was established. He said that SCSSA represents a historical shift in the stages of scientific development as well as an important addition to previously established research centers at UOS and to astronomy and space science research globally. He said that this year will witness a shift to a more specialized phase in astronomy and space science research with Sharjah entering the ‘space age’.
Stating this, Professor Al Naimiy said, “SCSSA is considered a center of technology, science, knowledge, heritage and tourism. It represents the purity and originality of Arab and Islamic heritage related to space observation and connects this heritage with the most contemporary and advanced technology. In addition, it seeks to train generations of youth interested in the sciences of their grandfathers, the great Arab and Muslim scientists.”
“SCSSA is also considered a quantum leap forward in the progress of scientific development taking place in the country, which has come in response to the forward-looking aims and sound directives of His Highness, Ruler of Sharjah, who is no stranger to scientific progress as its patron and the architect of modern Sharjah. The center is also viewed as a valuable addition to the previously established Arab research centers at UOS, especially in the fields of space sciences and astronomy. The center is slated for inauguration during the month of April during which the center’s planetarium will also be open to visitors for a view of its full range of programs,” said Professor Al Naimiy. Following is the text of the interview:
What is the idea behind establishing the center?
The idea to establish SCSSA began with His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, who expressed an interest in producing an international documentary film entitled, “Deen Al Qayyima,” which is about the creation of the Universe starting from the “big bang.” The film takes viewers from this point on by employing verses from the Holy Quran: “Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them…” to the end of the Universe based upon the verse, “The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it…” The film depicts life from its beginning on this planet and also highlights the lives of a number of prophets and messengers (peace and blessing be upon them) and features the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Through this magnificent global center, western society will learn about the scientific miracles in the Holy Quran and the nature of the moderate and just religion of Islam, which will allow all humankind to recognize the true face of Islam. SCSSA will also be a training center for UAE national youth and provide an idea about space sciences and astronomy to academic and scientific institutions as well as universities and schools. This is why the film was given the title “Deen Al Qayyima” (the Righteous Religion).
What is the external design of SCSSA and what is its area?
The design of the center was conceptulized by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, and includes a planetarium in its center representing the sun around which are orbiting models of the planets. The display represents the solar system as seen from space and visitors are able to move through its orbits and area of approximately 450,000 square meters.
What is the function of the Planetarium?
The planetarium contains displays and space and astronomy movies as well as a semi-circle display screen made of aluminum sheets installed at an angle to display high-definition images and films using an advanced digital display system consisting of seven (7) high-performance light-display channels (Barco’s F3). The channels operate simultaneously to project digitally processed images using high-speed image processing devices to produce homogeneous images constructed in a way that makes the image seem as if it is coming from a single source.
The planetarium also contains an enormous star display (the Star Ball) located in the heart of the celestial dome theatre. This allows for the display of a huge number of stars (10 million) and is a perfect tool for the study of astronomy, space, the sun, moon and planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury and Venus).
The planetarium also contains high precision computers that feed video signals through a digital visual interface, which is linked simultaneously to seven display devices. The theatre was specially designed and thus named the Planetarium Theatre.
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The Planetarium Theatre has a 200-seat capacity with seats carefully distributed and placed at highly calculated angles to provide a comfortable view for visitors. It contains the advanced modern software, Uniview, which provides digital simulation of space and gives viewers the opportunity to move through the vast cosmos. These programs utilize continuously updated data from the satellites and space telescopes belonging to European and U.S. space agencies.
What can you tell us about the Uniview program used in the Planetarium?
The Uniview program simulates the visual representation of the data and is used in more than 150 planetariums around the world. The features of this program address and solve problems related to the limited capacity of any computer system to give a broad-range view of the Universe.
What are the other contents of the center?
The center includes a number of astronomy, space and physics educational displays for several different age groups, including an advanced space gallery that allows for viewing the universe during four different time periods as seen by the naked eye and by Muslim scientists of the past as well as with instruments used long ago.
The gallery also contains an exhibit of the universe as explored with a telescope like that of a Galileo. Additionally, it contains spectrum devices manufactured for the first time in the history, which allow for exploration of the universe using space technology such as satellites and space rovers (i.e. as seen by modern telescopes and cameras of today).
There is also a gallery of space technology, which is an exhibit of space exploration since the launch of the first satellite in 1957 until today, in addition to the Sharjah Astronomical Observatory, which will be a big plus for researchers and students.
What is the Sharjah Astronomical Observatory and how will researchers and students benefit from it?
The Sharjah Astronomical Observatory is an optical observatory for observing the galaxies, stars and planets up to 10 light years away as well as the sun and the moon with advanced high-precision astronomical devices.
Researchers and students visiting the center will be able to observe, photograph and study the various celestial bodies such as the galaxies, stars, planets and comets as well as the sun and the moon. They will be able to observe the special phases of the moon, including the Crescent. For this reason, the center is of great importance for space research and will give students an opportunity in the upcoming future to achieve the goal of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah, which is to compete with countries around the world in space research and astronomy and to attain a high international ranking in research.
When will the center open?
The center is expected to open during the month of April and the university will begin working in it immediately. The planetarium will be open to the public soon thereafter following the full preparation of its programs in a matter of one week.
Source:
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