Powerful astronomy observatory dedicated in Rabat

An astronomical observatory, described as the most powerful in Morocco and North Africa, was dedicated Friday afternoon in Rabat.

The facility, built by funds from Moroccan private donors, comprises an observatory and a 40-seat planetarium.

The telescope was offered by the French embassy in Morocco, under a cultural, scientific and cooperation agreement. It is endowed with a memory that can trace 12,000 items: stars, nebulas, star clusters and quasars.

It also makes it possible to watch galaxies located 350 million light years away and take pictures of quasars located two billion light years away.