SAASST News (396)
SAASST Organizes a Special Observation of the Partial Solar Eclipse
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah organized a special observation of the Partial Solar Eclipse on Thursday, December 26th, 2019, starting at 7:00 am UAE time. This event came in collaboration with the UAE Space Agency. This event is of importance in the endeavor of SAASST to educate the general community about the most important astronomical phenomena and developments in the field of space science and astronomy as well as the UAE space sector.
SAASST Organizes the UAE-Japan Workshop on Planetary Exploration
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah organized the UAE-Japan Workshop on Planetary Exploration, in cooperation with the UAE Space Agency, the Chiba Institute of Technology (CIT), and the Japanese Manned Space Systems (JAMSS). The workshop aims to introduce specialists and amateurs of space sciences and astronomy to the developments and achievements in the UAE and global space sectors, and present some scientific research results and meteorites that were monitored using the UAE Meteor Monitoring Network Towers to monitor meteors in the country.
SAASST 40-m Radio Interferometer Finally Assembled
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) has now a new instrument: a 40-m radio interferometer, the first of its kind in the world for a modest budget. The whole project started seven months ago with the installation of a one-single Spider-500A 5-meter radio telescope by PrimaLuceLab of Italy in April 2019.
SAASST Attends the 10th ESIG UAE Space Agency Meeting
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology attended the 10th ESIG meeting organized by the UAE Space Agency on Nov. 28, 2019. The meeting was held at the Sorbonne University in Abu-Dhabi. The SAASST team was composed of Dr. Ilias Fernini (SAASST Deputy General Director), Dr. Antonios Manousakis (UoS/SAASST), Dr. Mubasshir Shaikh (SAASST), Mr. Mohamed Rihan (SAASST Radio Lab), Mr. Ibrahim Al-Sabt (SAASST CubeSat Lab) and Mr. Sahith Madara (SAASSt CubeSat Lab). Dr. Ilias and Mr. Rihan presented the “UAE Meteor Monitoring Network” and the ‘Decametric Radio Telescope” projects, respectively. Both projects are funded by the UAE Space Agency. The meeting was also an occasion to present two ideas from SAASST to promote space sciences (Dr. Antonios) and technology (Mr. Ibrahim) projects.
STK Students Workshop
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology organized the 2nd STK Workshop on Nov. 27, 2019. The workshop was part of the CubeSat Laboratory program and was attended by SAASST research assistants as well as students from the University of Sharjah. Mr. Diogo Rogrigues, the MENA Director of AGI, presented the workshop. The title of the workshop was “Comms Engineering with STK/Communications”.
SAASST Organizes a Lecture on Detecting Neutrinos Underwater and Under Ice
The Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST) at the University of Sharjah received Prof. Antoine Kouchner from KM3NeT, a Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope, and professor at the Université Paris 7 Diderot, which is one of the leading French universities located in Paris. The lecture at the university was entitled "Detecting Neutrinos Underwater and Under Ice.” The lecture covered several topics, including the rationale for neutrino astronomy, detection and detection principles, and the most prominent new developments in this field, such as diffuse flows, sources, dark matter, and prospects, including the field of neutrino physics. This was in the presence of a large crowd of faculty members, staff, and students at the University of Sharjah, and astronomy and space sciences enthusiasts.
UAEU Students Visit SAASST
A group of students from the United Arab Emirates University visited the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2019. The group was accompanied by Prof. Nouredine Amrane, Dr. Adel Hashish, and Dr. Naslim Neelamkodan from the UAEU Physics Department.
New Zealand Ambassador Visits SAASST
His Excellency Mr. Hawkins Matthew, the Ambassador of New Zealand, visited the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology on Nov. 19, 2019.
UAE Astronauts Visit SAASST
HH Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Sharjah received at the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology the two UAE Astronauts, Mr. Hazza Al-Mansouri, and Dr. Sultan Al-Neyadi on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. The courtesy visit was attended by HE Prof. Hamid Al-Naimiy, the Chancellor of the University and General Director of SAASST, along with officials from Mohamed Bin Rashed Space Center and the University of Sharjah.
Mr. Ludovic Pouille, French Ambassador to the UAE, visits SCASS
HE Mr. Ludovic Pouille, French Ambassador to the UAE, and his wife visited the Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences on March 07, 2019. Prof. Hamid Al-Naimiy, Chancellor of the University of Sharjah and SCASS' General Director, welcomed the French Ambassador to the Center. Ms. Raja Rabia, the French General Consul as well as Ms. Sabine Sciortino, the Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor, were also part of the French delegation. Mr. Ludovic had the chance to tour the space exhibitions, the planetarium, and the research laboratories. He was very impressed by the achievements of the Center just four years after its inauguration.
Bright Meteor Event Observed on the evening of March 5th by SCASS Towers
On the evening of March 05, 2019, a bright meteor has been observed and detected from the UAEMMN stations at Al-Yahar and Liwa. This meteor is approximated to have an apparent magnitude of more than -4 which therefore makes it a fireball. The meteor has been captured by seven cameras (3 from Liwa and 4 from Al-Yahar) of the UAEMMN towers. The figures show the captured meteor from Liwa and Al-Yahar.
A Lecture on Machine Learning Applications in Astronomy
The Sharjah Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences (SCASS) at the University of Sharjah organized a lecture under the title "Machine Learning Applications in Astronomy" by Research Assistant Ms. Aisha Al Owais for the Center's staff, the University of Sharjah community, space enthusiasts and the general public. During the lecture, Ms. Al Owais introduced general concepts related to the topic such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans; Machine Learning, which is an application of AI that provides systems with the ability to learn and improve from experience; and Deep Learning, a technique used to build and train neural networks that assist the decision-making nodes.