Atlaskies

The link between you and the sky

The Atlaskies team’s efforts have led to an increased interest in the field of astronomy and a better understanding of the universe for many people. They are also fostering a sense of community and collaboration among scientists, students, and amateur astronomers, and promoting the importance of preserving dark skies for future generations. The team’s goal is to continue to inspire and educate others about the beauty and wonder of the night sky and the vast universe beyond our planet.

 

WHERE WE ARE

The observatory is located in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco (Oukaimeden). It is hosted by OUCA (observatoire Universitaire Cadi Ayyad) who is our partner. The site was previously shortlisted by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) for the Very Large Telescope (VLT) project, making it an ideal location for stargazing and astronomical research. The observatory is located in the future biggest dark sky reserve in the world, which is bigger than the Mont-Mégantic reserve. The site benefits from about 250 clear nights per year with a median seeing of 0.84 arcseconds and it is located in a Bortle 1 location which is considered an ideal location for stargazing as it has minimal light pollution.

WHAT WE DO

The team's efforts to promote scientific astronomy are not limited to just observing and studying the night sky. They are also actively involved in public outreach, holding regular events and workshops to educate the local community and visitors about astronomy. These events include lectures, stargazing sessions and telescope viewings, which are open to the public and allow people of all ages to learn more about the universe and our place in it.

In addition to their public outreach activities, the team is also working closely with a number of scientific institutions, including the Institute of Astrophysics of Paris (IAS), the Institute of Planetology and Astrophysics of Grenoble (IPAG) and universities in Paris and Marrakech. They will also be in collaboration with the Association Française d'Astronomie and the magazine Ciel&Espace in order to promote activities in the field of collaboration between professionals and amateurs.

Our observatory enjoys excellent sky conditions, as shown in the following charts

Some discoveries made by team members