AMMAN — Renowned Jordanian astronomer, Engineer Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the
International Astronomy Center in Abu Dhabi, has
received a remarkable honor from the
International Astronomical Union (IAU).
The IAU has chosen to name one of the previously designated asteroids, (RS
2001), after Odeh, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the
field of astronomy.
اضافة اعلان
This prestigious acknowledgment is a testament to his
remarkable efforts in establishing the
UAE Meteor Monitoring Network and
overseeing the Abu Dhabi Astronomical Seal Observatory, Ammon News reported.
In a statement released by the International
Astronomy Center in Abu Dhabi, Engineer Odeh expressed his gratitude for the
recognition.
He explained that the UAE
Meteor Monitoring Network,
established in 2017, encompasses three stations strategically positioned across
the expansive Abu Dhabi desert. Equipped with advanced technology, the network
automatically captures images of meteors as they streak across the sky.
The data collected is then analyzed to determine the
meteors' trajectories and origins. The network's continued operation has been instrumental
in the discovery of 12 previously unknown meteor showers, which have been
officially documented by the IAU.
A first of its kind
Engineer Odeh further highlighted his collaboration with a
team of dedicated enthusiasts in establishing the
Astronomical Seal Observatory in 2021. The observatory has emerged as the region's first fully automated
facility of its kind. Through its cutting-edge capabilities, the observatory
actively monitors a wide range of astronomical phenomena and conducts comprehensive
studies on asteroids, with a particular focus on recently discovered ones.
The Jordanian astronomer's significant contributions extend
beyond meteor monitoring and asteroid research.
He has undertaken numerous projects and conducted extensive
studies on moon sighting and prayer times calculation.
In 1999, Engineer Odeh founded the Islamic Project for Moon Sighting, an initiative that meticulously tracks the crescent moon on a monthly
basis. The project's findings are consistently published on the International
Astronomy Center's website, contributing to accurate and reliable information
regarding the sighting of new Hijri months.
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