Soneva has introduced a 3D astronomy experience, with the introduction of a brand-new Meade telescope at the Observatory at Soneva Fushi, its flagship resort in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives. Resident astronomers at Soneva Fushi will be on hand to educate guests and show them the differences in distance between stars and other celestial objects using the 3D technology.
Mike Dalley, CEO of Inspiring Skies, the company responsible for installing the new telescope, explained the capability of the 3D component: “This new technology will help revolutionize how we offer astronomy experiences to guests, as it gives depth of field to what people see while looking through the telescope. It means that, for example, while looking at an open cluster, some stars will appear closer while others further away.”
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Throughout 2018, Soneva will welcome a number of well-known astronomers to its observatory to share their expertise and experiences of the night skies.
OverNew Year’s, Soneva Fushi hosted the award-winning astronomer, Professor Massimo Tarenghi, who shared his knowledge and experience with guests. The Italian astronomer is known for building and directing the Very Large Telescope, or VLT, in the Atacama Desert in Chile (the VLT is the most productive ground-based facility for astronomy, with only the Hubble Space Telescope generating more scientific papers among facilities operating at visible wavelengths). In 2015, Soneva welcomed the renowned American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who gave a lecture to guests about his moon landing.
Soneva already operates two observatories, one at Soneva Fushi and the other at Soneva Jani, housing the biggest telescopes in the Maldives. Soneva Kiri on the island of Koh Kood in Thailand is also home to a large observatory. The resorts offer a variety of astronomy-related experiences to guests, such as an Astronomical Dinner Cruise, sunrise astronomical breakfast, and stargazing with the resorts’ on-site astronomers.
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