Dafna: The Qatari Calendar House announced Monday the graduation of the third cohort of Astronomy Bachelor's Program graduates and the fifth cohort of Astronomical Observers for the year 2025. The ceremony took place in the main hall of the Sheikh Abdullah Al Ansari Complex in Dafna.
According to Qatar News Agency, twelve trainees successfully passed the practical and theoretical assessments for the Astronomy Bachelor's Program and completed five courses. Meanwhile, 39 trainees successfully passed the practical and theoretical assessments for the Astronomical Observer Program and completed three courses. Both programs provided field training on night observation outside the city.
The graduates will join the Qatari Calendar House's Astronomical Observer team, as the programs are an extension of the House's plan to serve the community by spreading astronomical culture. Scientific and technical preparations have been made to offer advanced astronomy license courses, covering topics such as rituals and timings, crescents, meteorology, advanced skills for astronomical observers, and the development of astronomical observation equipment.
The Calendar House has been keen to provide astronomical equipment and supporting tools, in addition to preparing and equipping lectures and workshops for both programs. It is worth noting that the Qatari Calendar House fully supervised the organization of the Qatar Schools Astronomy Olympiad, with more than 85 boys' and girls' schools participating.
This year, the House also aimed to activate partnerships with various government institutions, most notably a cooperation agreement with the Rasikh Center at Qatar Foundation and Qatar University, and ongoing cooperation with the Museum of Islamic Art. Building on what the Qatar Calendar House has begun, a plan has been put in place to continue the astronomy license and astronomical observer courses, with the aim of adding new members to the House's astronomical observation team.