Towards a national astronomy observatory for the United Arab Emirates

摘要

The Emirates Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) investigated the possibility to setup an astronomical research and outreach center within the United Arab Emirates. The main goals of such a new institution are to raise interest in space research and to ultimately develop a significant research community within the UAE. Such an astronomy center will also require appropriate observatory facilities. In this paper current concepts of such a possible national UAE astronomy observatory will be outlined, and the findings of an initial survey for suitable locations to host the telescopic facilities within the UAE are presented.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.