Find Your North Star
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"The night sky was once a map of culture as much as it was a map of cosmos"
For centuries, the North Star has been a point of guidance to people. As the new year approaches, we invite you to think about what guides you. To explore this idea, we spoke with astrophotographer Yousuf Al Qasimi whose insight gives this reflection deeper meaning.
Our region has a deep relationship with the sky, so we asked Mr. Al Qasimi how that heritage translates into his work. His connection with the sky began in childhood, shaped by his Bedouin surroundings.
Al Qasimi learned from his elders: their myths, their memories, and their way of reading the sky long before I ever picked up a camera. What followed came naturally to him: the need to turn that oral heritage into visual stories — capturing in photographs what had first been passed down to him in words.
"I grew up far from the flow of cities, where the star were brighter and the stories were closer."
"Arab heritage is rich with stories written into the sky."
When we explored what stars represent in this part of the world, Mr. Al Qasimi spoke of the stories our ancestors once read in the sky.
Al Qasimi’s favourite story is that of Aldebaran, the lonely star who fell in love with Thurayya, the beautiful cluster, but was rejected and now forever trails behind her across the night sky. Arab astronomers observed that whenever Thurayya rose, Aldebaran would follow moments later. The tale of Aldebaran reflects how deeply our ancestors saw meaning, morality, and identity in the movements of the stars. As Al Qasimi notes, these stories remind us that the night sky was once a map of culture as much as it was a map of the cosmos.
To understand where the night sky can truly be experienced in our region, Yousuf Al Qasimi points to Razeen Desert in Abu Dhabi — a place photographers call the “Milky Way Spot – Al Quaa”. It falls under a Bortle Class 2 sky, making it the clearest and darkest location in the country. The desert there is breathtaking — tall sand dunes, silence that feels ancient, and a fully paved road leading straight to it.
"The desert in Razeen is breathtaking. It is known among photographers as the Milky Way Spot."
“The night sky has taught me calm — a way of stepping away from the noise of life and finding space to breathe.”
When speaking about the meaning people seek in the sky, Al Qasimi reflects on what it has brought him. It shaped him into someone who “prefers the quiet edges of the world over the rush of the city,” and reminded him that “no matter how long the night feels, the sun eventually rises — just as challenges eventually pass.”
Yousuf Al Qasimi also notes that "The North Star, known locally as Al-Yah, guided our ancestors with remarkable precision" and remains clearly visible in today's sky.
“One’s North Star may not be literal: it might be a purpose, a value, or a calling, but once you find it, it will guide you just as faithfully.”
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Yousuf Al Qasimi is an Emirati astrophotographer whose work brings the night sky into focus. At the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology, he guides visitors and students alike, offering workshops and lectures that expand the region’s connection to astrophotography.