I teach an introduction to astronomy course. We cover a lot of subjects, such as the solar system, asteroids, comets and the sun. Also, I run tutorials around how to use telescopes and different apps to detect the stars. The best app you can download on a computer is Stellarium, and SkyView is the best for phones.
 

My research interest is in solar physics, which includes active regions of the sun, the eruption in the atmosphere of the sun, and the solar wind, which affects the climate on the Earth.

In areas far from Riyadh, about 300 kilometers, where there is no light pollution, the stars can be seen even with the naked eye. Saudi is a vast country with many places isolated from the cities.
 

The best location that attracts me to observe the stars is the city of AlUla, which is located in the northwestern part of Saudi. It is an ancient city with historical and cultural significance, about 200,000 years of human heritage. The sky is clear, and light pollution is low. In AlUla, you can observe the stars and constellations with the naked eye or a simple telescope in the silent and magical desert.

There are many observatories. Most of them are equipped to track the time of the new moon, because it is related to the times of prayers and fasting for Muslims. 
 

I just visited the solar astronomical observatory and the refractor telescope at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at King Saud University, and I like it a lot. These observatories are equipped with the latest equipment, so you can observe the movement of the stars and planets, the sun and moon, and monitor the phenomenon of eclipses and lunar eclipses. The observatory opens its doors for those wishing to see celestial bodies.

The best time to go stargazing is during the days before, during and soon after each new moon.
 

Also, the seasons are an important factor; the best time is from October until March. In Saudi, the sky is clear and the weather is stable most days, so it’s easy to go stargazing [during this time]. Just pick the right place.

The constellations that appear in the Northern Hemisphere differ slightly from those that appear in the Southern Hemisphere of Earth, and the number of constellations depends on the location and how close you are to the equator. In addition, they differ according to the seasons and are called seasonal constellations. In the area around us [in Riyadh], you can see the Little Bear all year long, Gemini, Pisces and Sagittarius.

My advice is to stay away from the city for 100 kilometers and observe in a high land devoid of trees. The best place is in the desert, such as the Dahna desert in the east, Al Nafud in the north and the area around the city of AlUla. A small tip: Always use digital planetarium software to map out the night sky to save time, bring a red-light flashlight to see your stuff in the dark and a power tank to charge your devices.

Actually, astronomy is my passion, and I enjoy every part of it. But what I like the most is watching the moment of a rocket launch and the result — the information that’s sent to Earth from the spacecraft far away from us. I definitely also love studying the sun and understanding the behavior and personalities of our star.

For those wanting to plan a stargazing trip, consider an off-roading adventure to Moon Mountain, or book a Stargazing and Moonlit Nights tour by Experience AlUla. 
 

• Off-road trips at Moon Mountain
• Experience AlUla

Nawal Alanazi isn’t the only one inspired by the Saudi night sky. A trip to Saudi’s Unayzah desert when she was just 6 years old led Mishaal Ashemimry to pursue a career in aerospace engineering. Read more in a recent Saudi Women Spotlight article on visitsaudi.com. And while you’re in Saudi, discover more inspiration at Al Khobar’s Science and Technology Center (SCITECH), where you can take a voyage to the stars in the museum’s Earth and Space Hall.
 

• Saudi Women Spotlight: Leaders in STEM reach out of this world
• Al Khobar’s Science and Technology Center (SCITECH)

If you want to get outside the major cities to stargaze, consider renting a car. Rentals are available from a variety of companies at airports and in most major cities.
 

• Budget
• Sixt
• Enterprise
• Theeb
• Hanco
• Yelo