The 365 Days of Astronomy Travelers in the Night Eps. 325 & 326: Marrakech & Asteroids 2016
Aug 24, 2025
Explore the breathtaking Atlas Mountains in Morocco, where dark skies and clear weather make for perfect asteroid hunting conditions. Discover how the Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey, a collaboration among amateur astronomers from Morocco, France, and Switzerland, achieves professional-quality results. The year 2016 marked a record in asteroid discoveries, with nearly 1,900 new Earth-approaching objects identified, showcasing the relentless efforts of dedicated astronomers. Tune in for fascinating insights and stories from the world of asteroid detection!
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High-Altitude Moroccan Observatory
- The Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey (MOSS) operates near Marrakesh at ~9,000 ft with dark, clear skies ideal for asteroid hunting.
- MOSS is a small international team using remote operations and slow internet to produce professional-quality asteroid and comet discoveries.
International Partnership Built MOSS
- MOSS formed from a partnership of Kade Ayad University, Jura Observatory, and French amateur Claudine Renner who provided the telescope and dome.
- The team has operated the telescope remotely over 1,000 nights since 2011 and discovered nearly 3,000 main-belt asteroids plus comets and NEOs.
Small Team, Big Discoveries
- Despite limited connectivity, MOSS has discovered nearly 3,000 main-belt asteroids and several Earth-approaching asteroids and comets.
- One recent find, 2016 HX3, is a small Earth-approaching object that approaches Mars more closely than Earth and may interest future Mars resource studies.