Astronomy Training Workshop on Telescopes and Planetarium Software in Iraq
Published: 26th August 2025 08:00 (UTC)
The Scientific Welfare Department of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Iraq, in collaboration with the IAU OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) team for Iraq, held a two-day astronomy training workshop under the title: Using Telescopes and Planetarium Software for Astronomical Observations.
The event took place on August 3–4, 2025, at the Baghdad Planetarium – Al-Battani Laboratory. It included both theoretical and practical sessions, aimed at students, educators, and astronomy enthusiasts.
Workshop program:
- Day 1: A theoretical lecture introducing the types of telescopes used in astronomy and hands-on telescope training for participants.
- Day 2: Interactive training on the Stellarium planetarium software tool and a practical demonstration of how to use Stellarium for night sky observation.
The workshop began at 11:00 AM each day and was open to the public through a free online registration form. It marked an important step in building local capacity in observational astronomy and public science engagement in Iraq.
Public Observing at the Baghdad Planetarium
A few months before the training program, as part of its 2025 summer outreach programs, the Scientific Care Department of the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with the NAEC team for Iraq, organized a public astronomy night on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Baghdad Planetarium, located in Al-Zawraa Park near Al-Alawi intersection in Baghdad.
The event began at 6:00 PM and was free and open to the public, drawing families and astronomy enthusiasts of all ages. The evening featured a live telescope observation of planet Mars, guided tours of the prominent summer constellations, and a fun astronomy quiz for children with symbolic prizes to inspire curiosity and participation.
This event highlighted the importance of collaboration between official institutions and national astronomy education initiatives to promote scientific culture and encourage community engagement in space science.
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Contacts
Ali Al-EdhariAL-Muthanna University
ali.aledhariatmu.edu.iq
Media files
Caption: Promotional poster for the astronomy training workshop titled “Using Telescopes and Planetarium Software,” held on August 3–4, 2025, at the Baghdad Planetarium. Organized by the Scientific Welfare Department – Ministry of Youth and Sports in cooperation with the IAU OAE National Astronomy Education Coordinator team for Iraq.
Credit: NAEC team Iraq
File: image 163.98 kB
