MPC Observatory M69 · United Arab Emirates
The UAE’s first
public observatory.
A working research station under desert skies, open to everyone — for a first look at Saturn’s rings or a night of deep-sky imaging.
The stars behind this page are the real sky above M69, right now.
01 — Who we are
A real observatory, opened to the public.
EAO is a research station registered with the Minor Planet Center as observatory M69. Its measurements of asteroids and comets join the global record. The same telescope welcomes families, students and astrophotographers — so every visit is a night at a working observatory, not a show about one.
M69
MPC observatory code
356 mm
PlaneWave CDK14 aperture
UAE
Abu Dhabi desert
02 — What we do
Four ways
to share the sky.
Everything we do happens at the same working research station — so visitors, students and scientists all use the real thing.
A
Outreach
Public nights, school and university visits, and community programmes that put real telescopes in people’s hands.
B
Astrophotography
Deep-sky imaging of galaxies and nebulae — see our work, or capture your own image with our team.
C
Tours & Seminars
Guided observatory tours, workshops and talks on the night sky, from first steps to advanced techniques.
D
Research & Studies
Astrometry of asteroids and comets reported to the Minor Planet Center as M69, plus hosting for partner telescopes.
03 — Visit
Start your visit here.
Most popular
Daily Pass
Your evening at a working observatory — guided, unhurried, and centred on the telescope.
- Entry to the observatory
- Visual telescopes, 4″ to 14″
- Restrooms · hot drinks in winter
- Every day, 7 pm – 1 am
From AED 50
Event of the week
Night sky calendar
Upcoming events
Meteor showers, planet nights, workshops and seminars at the observatory.
04 — Live from M69
The observatory,
right now.
Cameras around the site by day; the telescope’s live image and the control screen by night. The sky camera and weather station update every minute.
All-sky cameraComing soon — the whole sky, every minute
Weather stationConnecting…
- Sky
- —
- Roof
- —
- Temperature
- —
- Humidity
- —
- Sky darkness
- —
05 — The site
One patch of desert,
built for dark skies.
Roll-off observatories, domes and open observing pads, far from the city lights. Visitors observe on the pads while hosted telescopes work through the night.
Roll-off baysHosted telescopes
Observing padsPublic sessions
DomesSmall observatories
06 — Astrophotography
Captured from M69.
07 — Plan your visit
Everything you need, in one place.
Opening hours
Every day
7 pm – 1 am GST · last entry 12 am
Location
Abu Dhabi desert
United Arab Emirates · Directions
Getting here
1 h 45 min from Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
2 h 30 min from Burj Khalifa
Good to know
Cloudy night? No refunds, but your ticket becomes credit for another night.
Visitor FAQ
Your night under the UAE sky.
Choose a date, and we’ll have the telescope ready.