Children at the Souq Waqif seeing the planets through a telescope. Pic: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Many visitors to the Souq Waqif have an opportunity to have a close look at some planets in the solar system through a telescope. An Egyptian astronomer Amro Mahmoud, with his powerful telescope, is attracting many sky-watchers.
They have the opportunity to see the Moon, Jupiter and Venus after the sunset, during the winter season, says Mahmoud, who has his telescope fixed opposite Fanar mosque.
“People can see Venus and the Moon after the sunset, but the Jupiter and its 16 moons can be seen only after 11pm,” he told The Peninsula.
“Venus can be seen only for three months in the Doha sky from December,” he added.
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars could be seen during the summer for three months. However, Mahmoud says that Mercury is not clearly seen compared with other planets since it is nearer to the sun.
“Many people like to see the sun through the telescope. It can be seen early in the morning around 4am, but I don’t encourage it because the sun is very powerful and it can even harm the lenses and telescope,” he said.
Mahmoud, an Optics graduate at Tanta University in Egypt, is at the Souq Waqif since last year. He has a telescope 200 times powerful than an ordinary one, bought online from the US. However, the powerful lenses he use to see the planets are handmade, claims Mahmoud.
He charges QR5 to see and take photos of planets through the telescope. “I believe science should be brought to the people, it’s not something limited to labs, but should be brought to the streets and involve ordinary people,” said Mahmoud, who plans to move to Dubai by next year.
Abdul Aziz and his sister Deema visitors from Saudi Arabia said it was their first time to see planets through a telescope. “It’s amazing to see the Venus and Moon while watching I felt the Moon is moving.”
Ahmed (8) and his sister Sulaf (5), residents in Doha, said, “We are happy to see planets, it looks like the Moon is so close to us.”
Razan, a Lebanese student on a visit to Doha with her family said, “It was an exciting experience. The Venus looks like a crescent and the Moon is so beautiful.”
