{"id":14824,"date":"2016-03-22T07:43:55","date_gmt":"2016-03-22T07:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/?p=14824"},"modified":"2016-03-22T07:53:36","modified_gmt":"2016-03-22T07:53:36","slug":"ethiopian-observatory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/ethiopian-observatory","title":{"rendered":"From The Entoto Space Observatory, Ethiopia Is Looking At The Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"a6b39195b99473d6c9dd698db2668010\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:2px 0 2px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<center>\r\n\r\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\r\nfunction ShorterThan(widthMax) {\r\n                if (screen.width < widthMax) {return true;}  \r\n                else {return false}\r\n    }\r\nvar LimitWidth = 728\r\nvar MobileZoneID = 348996\r\nvar DesktopZoneID = 348995   \r\n<!--\/\/<![CDATA[\r\n   document.MAX_ct0 ='';\r\n   var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'?'https:\/\/cas.criteo.com\/delivery\/ajs.php?':'https:\/\/cas.criteo.com\/delivery\/ajs.php?');\r\n   var m3_r = Math.floor(Math.random()*99999999999);\r\n   document.write (\"<scr\"+\"ipt type='text\/javascript' src='\"+m3_u);\r\n   if (ShorterThan(LimitWidth)) {document.write (\"zoneid=\"+MobileZoneID);} else {document.write (\"zoneid=\"+DesktopZoneID);}\r\n   document.write(\"&nodis=1\");\r\n   document.write ('&cb=' + m3_r);\r\n   if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write (\"&exclude=\" + document.MAX_used);\r\n   document.write (document.charset ? '&charset='+document.charset : (document.characterSet ? '&charset='+document.characterSet : ''));\r\n   document.write (\"&loc=\" + escape(window.location));\r\n   if (document.referrer) document.write (\"&referer=\" + escape(document.referrer));\r\n   if (document.context) document.write (\"&context=\" + escape(document.context));\r\n   if ((typeof(document.MAX_ct0) != 'undefined') && (document.MAX_ct0.substring(0,4) == 'http')) {\r\n       document.write (\"&ct0=\" + escape(document.MAX_ct0));\r\n   }\r\n   if (document.mmm_fo) document.write (\"&mmm_fo=1\");\r\n   document.write (\"'><\/scr\"+\"ipt>\");\r\n\/\/]]>--><\/script>\r\n<\/center>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 2004, three hopeful astronomers founded the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), an organization that aims to address the lack of space science activity and interest in Ethiopia. The ESSS, which has 10,000 members, opened the only space observatory in East Africa in order to kick-start space science technology in Ethiopia.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>An ideal location<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ESSS\u2019 Entoto Observatory and Research Centre, located on the 3,200-metre summit of Mount Entoto is the perfect place to observe space. Ethiopia is close to the equator and has clear skies and Mount Entoto is one of the best places to view Orion\u2019s Belt. This $3 million investment allowed Ethiopia to be among the few African countries to have its own space program. <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14825\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14825\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14825\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"700\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272-600x361.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272-450x270.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/4272-85x51.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/0ab64e2202a7a449aa6c61299711b0b8e134ebbc\/0_238_4272_2567\/master\/4272.jpg?w=1920&amp;q=55&amp;auto=format&amp;usm=12&amp;fit=max&amp;s=898d4b59638f09820f730a4fd48ffc78\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>Facing criticism<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The space program has faced some backlash. Many people do not see the value of this project, especially since\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/drought-ethiopia?utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=FB_Afr1_All_ElNino\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ethiopia is going through its worst drought in a half century <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and the population is suffering from widespread famine. When the observatory first opened, very little government money was spent. The ESSS approached several private donors such as Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed al Amoudi to fund research and build the observatory. The government took over running costs in March. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cIt was our priority to convince the government \u2013 now they have been convinced,\u201d said ESSS director Dr Solomon Belay Tessema. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Another challenge the program faces is being perceived as a threat to the church. Ghion Ashenafi, a 24-year old electrical engineer, does not believe that the space program is at odds with the church.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cFor me it\u2019s about attitude,\u201d he said. \u201cI always say God created everything. For me, science is a proof of God.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14826\" style=\"width: 722px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-14826\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/6b363d4f-fee7-48b2-850e-ffaffb58d5aa_w640_r1_cx0_cy3_cw0_s.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"722\" height=\"406\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/6b363d4f-fee7-48b2-850e-ffaffb58d5aa_w640_r1_cx0_cy3_cw0_s.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/6b363d4f-fee7-48b2-850e-ffaffb58d5aa_w640_r1_cx0_cy3_cw0_s-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/6b363d4f-fee7-48b2-850e-ffaffb58d5aa_w640_r1_cx0_cy3_cw0_s-85x48.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 722px) 100vw, 722px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gdb.voanews.com\/6B363D4F-FEE7-48B2-850E-FFAFFB58D5AA_w640_r1_cx0_cy3_cw0_s.jpg\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><strong>The big picture<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When facing criticism, the ESSS and its supporters encourage everyone to look at the big picture. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cThey call us crazy because they think we\u2019re [only] exploring outer space and gazing at the stars. But they can\u2019t see the bigger picture,\u201d ESSS member<\/strong> <strong>Abinet Ezra said.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Space science research is an investment that can help improve agriculture, telecommunications, education, healthcare and the economy. As\u00a0Kelali Adhana, the International Astronomical Union chief for East Africa, points out:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong> &#8220;We are using space applications in everyday activities, for mobile phones, weather &#8211; space applications are fundamental. \u00a0We cannot postpone it, otherwise we allow ourselves to live in poverty.&#8221; \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The ESSS is also lobbying for more science education opportunities within Ethiopia. When Tessema was in school there were no postgraduate programs in astronomy and astrophysics in the country. He had to go to Sweden to finish his studies. And while he returned, many Ethiopians seeking higher education preferred to settle down outside of the country. Their education ends up not benefiting their home country &#8211; a phenomenon known as the brain drain. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cIf someone studies here, they\u2019re going to contribute to society. It\u2019s a mechanism to control the brain drain,\u201d he said.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14827\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14827\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-14827\" src=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/telescope-629x419.jpg\" alt=\"source\" width=\"710\" height=\"473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/telescope-629x419.jpg 629w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/telescope-629x419-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/03\/telescope-629x419-85x57.jpg 85w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14827\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ipsnews.net\/Library\/2014\/06\/telescope-629x419.jpg\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.afrizap.com\/en\/ethiopia-tourism\">SEE ALSO:\u00a0Here\u2019s Why Ethiopia Should Be One Of Your Favorite Places To Visit In Africa.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<!--CusAds0-->\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2004, three hopeful astronomers founded the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), an organization that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>From The Entoto Space Observatory, Ethiopia Is Looking At The Stars<\/title>\n<meta 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