In March 2025, a team of undergraduate students from the Department of Physics, under the supervision of Dr. Ala'a Azzam, successfully restored the first astronomical observatory in Jordan, located at the University of Jordan. This observatory, originally gifted to the university by His Majesty King Hussein bin Talal, the former King of Jordan and father of His Majesty King Abdullah II, holds significant historical importance as the earliest facility of its kind in the country.
For decades, the observatory's telescope—installed around 1975—remained nonfunctional, with no successful attempts at operation. Through this student-led initiative, all major technical issues were resolved, making the telescope fully operational for the first time in many years.
The team has already captured high-quality photographs of the Moon, and in the coming days, they plan to extend their efforts to image deep-sky objects, marking a significant step forward in revitalizing the observatory’s scientific role.
Following the restoration, Dr. Azzam is now planning a comprehensive upgrade of the observatory’s systems. The goal is to modernize its instruments to support both:
Hands-on student training in observational astronomy
Public outreach activities to engage schools and the broader community
This upcoming upgrade aims to transform the observatory into a central hub for astronomical education and research in Jordan.
The restoration project was carried out by the following students, in collaboration with Dr. Azzam:
Ayman Abdalraheem Abo Dyak
Ali M. Masoud Dabbagh
Wesam Shaher Alrwashdah
Rasheed Rami Rasheed Rasheed
The first phase of this broader development plan will continue through the first semester of the 2025–2026 academic year, building on the success of the initial restoration.