Dubai: Dubai Municipality is gearing up to open Thuraya Astronomy Centre, one of the major tourist and educational projects being constructed at Mushrif Park, the civic body said on Sunday.
The Dh20 million observatory project, carried out by the General Projects Department of the Municipality, will cover the most prominent subjects related to astronomy and will be a centre for observing various astronomical phenomena.
This first-of-its-kind project will be an educational reference for all students as well as an astronomical observatory for the public and amateur astronomers, the municipality said in a press release.
However, it did not specify when the centre would be open.
A prominent and elevated place in the park was selected for the project that will employ the highest environment-friendly building standards. It consists of a main building with two floors housing a set of multi-purpose halls, open galleries, cafeteria and toilets.
The observatory, which will come up at a total land area of 29,600 square feet, also houses a telescope covered by a revolving dome, an astronomy and space gallery which includes photos, paintings and models of the planets, the solar system and the stars, and an exhibition of scientific games.
The project is one of the first basic service projects of Dubai Municipality, which will contribute in creating a generation passionate about astronomy in schools and universities. The project aims mainly to be a scientific entertainment and aid tourism, the municipality added.
