In UAE's bright cities, stargazers seek darkness to reconnect with the Milky Way
By
Jon Gambrell
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
The article explores how the United Arab Emirates' rapid development and urban light pollution have obscured the night sky across most of its inhabited areas. A group of volunteers from the Dubai Astronomy Group is helping people reconnect with the stars by organizing trips to Al Quaa Desert, one of the darkest spots in the country, where the Milky Way remains visible. The piece contrasts the nation's modern skyscrapers and bright city lights with the lost heritage of stargazing that once guided Bedouin travelers through the Empty Quarter.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe gleaming skyscrapers and brights lights of the United Arab Emirates draw the eyes of all who travel there, a sign of the Arabian Peninsula nation's rapid, oil-fueled development.
But something has been lost over that period: a clear vision across nearly all of the country's inhabited lands of the stars in the night sky.
A group of volunteers from the Dubai Astronomy Group has been helping people in the Emirates reconnect with the sight of stars and the Milky Way by taking them to Al Quaa Desert, one of the darkest spots in the country.
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