Back when there was no such thing as GPS, the only way sailors and travelers found their way back home was by following the stars. Wonder what the amusing hazy band of light seen in the night sky is? That’s our Milky Way galaxy a.k.a, The “River of Heaven.” For many people, a clear night sky with all the twinkling stars is the most beautiful sight in the world. If you are one of them, here’s the best way to see the Milky Way.
Of all the names, do you know why our galaxy is called the Milky Way? That’s because it is seen as a milky band of light in the sky when you see it from a really dark area. We at TicketsToDo always tell you about the most interesting places to visit in different cities and the amazing things to do. Here’s taking that many levels higher (literally) with the best way to see the Milky Way— the Al Quaa Milky Way spot.
Best way to see the Milky Way
The Al Quaa Milky Way spot
The Al Quaa desert is a 90-minute drive from Abu Dhabi city towards Al Ain and is fast gaining a reputation as “the Milky Way spot.” This is one of the darkest places in the Emirates and very little to negligible light pollution makes it the best way to see the Milky Way in the region. Al Quaa Milky Way desert in Abu Dhabi is so famous it has its own location tag on Google Maps. You can also find pictures taken by visitors and stargazers.
This is one of the most happening places for stargazers and astrophotographers alike. The “Ganges of the Sky” is clearly visible on a clear night.
Best time to see the Milky Way
It is difficult to see other objects when the Moon is the brightest thing up in the night sky. This becomes even more difficult due to dust and light pollution. But fret not, the Milky Waypoint in Abu Dhabi is free from all these and you will definitely be able to get a really nice view of the mesmerizing night sky from here. This is why Al Quaa is one of the best places in the UAE to stargaze.
The best time to visit the Al Quaa desert, Abu Dhabi would be the days before and after each new Moon because bright moonlight is absent from the sky during these days. Autumn and Spring are especially popular for astronomy.
Why is Al Quaa so popular?
People who have been to the Al Quaa Milky Way Spot say it genuinely looks as mesmerizing and beautiful as in the pictures shared of the galaxy. Besides, it is so silent and open and this makes it the perfect reason why one should visit it to get a glimpse of our universe.
To the naked eye, the Milky Way appears to be a band of light. This is actually the starlight emitted from the clusters that form the galaxy. If you’re just as lucky, you will be able to see this on a clear night without a telescope or any other equipment.
Tips-to-note before visiting Al Quaa
If you are going there in a regular car and not a 4×4, make sure not to drive it on the soft parts of the sand. Also, if you’re planning to take some good shots of the star-studded skies, then a smartphone camera might not suffice. It would be a good idea to take a DSLR/mirrorless camera so as to cover the beautiful sight that may otherwise be visible only to the naked eye. You could also take other eyepieces and telescope accessories if you are going for a true stargazing experience. You can get all your accessories from Amazon.
When to visit Al Quaa
What could be a better time to go stargazing than during a meteor shower? You won’t even need a telescope or a pair of binoculars to view this beautiful scene. Meteor showers occur mostly around the same time from year to year, although the peak may vary by a day or two. Here are some meteor showers expected in 2023 during which you could visit Al Quaa:
| Meteor Shower | Best time to View | Point of Origin | Approx. Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantid | Predawn | N | January 1-5 |
| Lyrid | Predawn | S | April 22-23 |
| Eta Aquarid | Predawn | SE | May 6-7 |
| Delta Aquarid | Predawn | S | July 28-29 |
| Perseid | Predawn | NE | August 12-13 |
| Draconid | Late Evening | NW | October 7 |
| Orionid | Predawn | S | October 21-22 |
| Northern Taurid | Late Evening | S | November 4-5 |
| Leonid | Predawn | S | November 17-18 |
| Andromedid | Late Evening | S | November 25-27 |
| Geminid | All Night | NE | December 13-14 |
| Ursid | Predawn | N | December 21-22 |
How to get to Al Quaa?
The darkest place in the UAE is 70 km away from Abu Dhabi, approximately a 90-minute drive towards Al Ain. You don’t necessarily need a 4X4. An unnamed street, you will see a large turning or a roundabout nearing the location for you to reach the exact spot. Put this number on Google Maps and you’ll find the exact location: 23.604633,54.750256. Open to public, the gates will lift on arrival.
Camping and amenities at Al Quaa
Overnight camping is allowed in the Al Quaa desert but ensure to carry your own camping materials including tents and torchlight. We are listing down everything you need to carry
- Food and water: The closest petrol station is at least 15 minutes away.
- Blanket or a chair: You can sit back and enjoy the milkyway.
- Garbage bag: Dispose the trash, do not litter.
- Flashlight/Headlight: It’ll help you navigate in the dark
- Warm clothes: It will be chilly
- Toe rope: In case the car gets stuck in dunes.
- Grill or firewood: required for cooking.
- Slippers: Don’t walk barefoot on the sand. You do have snakes and scorpions lurking in the dark.
- A camera: Of course you’ll need to capture the starry sky.
- Fuel your engines: For a safer side, fuel your car as it is really far.
- There are no toilet facilities: So make necessary arrangements.
- Binoculars and telescope for a close up if you want that.
- A good playlist.
10 Milky Way facts you probably didn’t know
- Although it cannot be exactly defined, the Milky Way is said to be made up of approximately 100 billion stars.
- Our galaxy is, on average, a hundred thousand light-years across and 13.51 billion years old.
- The central region of the Milky Way is shaped like a bar, composed of mostly old, red stars.
- It takes 250 million years for our Sun and the solar system to go all the way around the center of the Milky Way.
- Scientists predict that in about four billion years, the Milky Way will collide with its nearest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy.
- The Milky Way is also surrounded by more than 150 ancient groups of stars including some of which are the oldest in the universe.
- About 10-15% of the Milky Way’s visible matter is made of dust and gas, the rest being stars.
- Like most large galaxies, the Milky Way has a massive black hole at its center called Sagittarius A*.
- The Milky Way is made up of about 90% dark matter, the matter that cannot be seen, and about 10% “luminous matter”, or matter that we can see with our eyes.
- Our galaxy is said to have grown by devouring other small galaxies. The process is still on-going even now.
If you are interested in the best stargazing sites in UAE, do check our list of top sites.
Don’t miss out on all these amazing places to visit in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Fujairah too while you are on a tour in the UAE! If you are planning to travel anytime soon, you avoid the hassle of standing in queues by booking your tickets from TicketsToDo.com. Apply the promo codes and coupon codes to avail of special discounts on the tickets.
Unable to go camping? Here are some amazing tried and tested ideas for boredom, including indoor camping.
If you are planning to travel anytime soon, you avoid the hassle of standing in queues by booking your tickets from TicketsToDo.com. Apply the promo codes and coupon codes to avail of special discounts on the tickets from VoucherCodesUAE.
You can contact us on [email protected] and follow us on our Social Media channels to share your experience.
