Astronomy
Astronomy Department:
Prof. Ashraf A. Shaker
Head of the Department
The Astronomy department: is the biggest scientific collection in astronomy in Egypt and Arab World. Since that time we had the 30-inch telescope which built at Helwan (the main center of NRIAG). Hally comet in 1910 and the planet Pluto in 1930 had observed by that telescope. Also, we have the biggest telescope in the Arab world and North Africa, 74-inch Kottamia telescope at the Eastern desert of Egypt. Some places on the Moon have been observed by that telescope in the 1960s by American scientists from NASA.
The main goals of the department are scientific studies of celestial bodies (such as stars, planets, comets, meteors, galaxies …) and phenomena that occur outside the atmosphere. It studies the evolution of celestial bodies, physical and chemical properties, and the motion of bodies, as well as the formation and evolution of the universe.
Among the tasks of the astronomy department:
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Set the sun’s elevation angles on the horizon, determine the moon’s position, lighting intensity, and night vision range.
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Assembly, equipping and installation of various astronomical instruments and astronomical instruments.
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Test different perspectives and adjust their lenses, mirrors and mechanical movement.
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Protecting the Earth from natural hazards by monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects such as asteroids, satellites, orbital stations and space waste that are dangerous if they fall at great speeds and collide with the Earth.
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Covering metal, glass and plastic surfaces with reflective layers of different thicknesses, and mirrors mirrors of scientific and industrial devices.
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Determination of the absolute intensity of spectral lines and their uses in the fields of mining, industry, medical analysis and environmental pollution.
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A study of the transparency of the atmosphere in the various locations of the Republic.
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Study the eye’s ability to see at different lighting levels.
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A study of the upper atmosphere and its effect on various wireless communications.
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Calculation of lost electric energy and study of light pollution from capitals and major cities.
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Training in analyzing data and images taken by satellites and astronomical observations.
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Spreading astronomical culture through trips to the Institute’s headquarters and the Katameya Observatory.
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The Institute’s astronomy department also created an electronic page on the Facebook social networking site called “Astronomical Observatory of Katameya” and it reports directly to the head of the department, and it does the necessary media coverage for all astronomical issues on the media scene, and this page has met a great resonance among the amateur audience and those interested in astronomy and space sciences as well This page is being watched by a lot of journalists and media professionals to follow the astronomy and space news.
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The institute is now working with the Ministry of Scientific Research to seek the establishment of a new astronomical telescope, the largest of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa and the Mediterranean basin, with a diameter of 6.5 meters, which will place Egypt with the ranks of the major countries in monitoring deep space.
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