The Oukaïmeden Observatory

The Oukaïmeden Observatory located at 50km south of of Marrakech (Morocco) is operated by the Cadi Ayyad University and have been inaugurated in 2007. Located in the High Atlas mountains at almost 3’000m above see level, the observatory benefits of good observing conditions in a semi desertic area.

The Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey project – M.O.S.S. (IAU J43)

In August 2011, the Laboratoire de Physique des Hautes Energies et d’Astrophysique (Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech), the Société jurassienne d’astronomie (Switzerland) and the french amateur astronomer Claudine Rinner have signed a cooperation agreement to establish the Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey (MOSS). The Cadi Ayyad University has provided the observatory building, the Société jurassienne d’astronomie the 3.2m dome and Claudine Rinner the 0.50m f3.0 Newton telescope.

The MOSS project have been sponsored by the Schoch Foundation (Zurich), the Commission romande de physique (Switzerland), the Edgar Wilson Charitable Trust Fund (SAO, Boston USA) and the Planetary Society (Pasadena, California USA). And let’s not forget to mention the many hours of volunteer work put in by the various participants.