Lebanon’s astrophotographers aim for the stars

Eoghan Macguire
By Eoghan Macguire, CNN.
3 minute read
Updated 6:04 AM EDT, Tue October 3, 2017
The Milky Way as captured by Khalil Azar, founder of the BeirutVerus astrophotography collective.
The Milky Way as captured by Khalil Azar, founder of the BeirutVerus astrophotography collective.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
An inversion layer of cloud keeps light pollution from the city of Falougha, in central Lebanon, at bay.
An inversion layer of cloud keeps light pollution from the city of Falougha, in central Lebanon, at bay.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
BeirutVersus regularly heads out to remote locations in Lebanon to capture images of the night sky.
BeirutVersus regularly heads out to remote locations in Lebanon to capture images of the night sky.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The Andromeda galaxy captured from Lebanon using a 200mm lens.
The Andromeda galaxy captured from Lebanon using a 200mm lens.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Azar says he tries to use the most basic camera equipment possible. Here, he captures the Antares and Cats Paw nebulae from the town of Akoura, Lebanon.
Azar says he tries to use the most basic camera equipment possible. Here, he captures the Antares and Cats Paw nebulae from the town of Akoura, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
A meteor shower pictured from Oyoun Orghosh, in Lebanon.
A meteor shower pictured from Oyoun Orghosh, in Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The night sky above Akoura, northern Lebanon.
The night sky above Akoura, northern Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
According to Roger Hajjar of Notre Dame University-Louaize, astrophotography is growing in popularity in Lebanon.
According to Roger Hajjar of Notre Dame University-Louaize, astrophotography is growing in popularity in Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The Cat's Paw nebula captured near the village of Akoura, Lebanon.
The Cat's Paw nebula captured near the village of Akoura, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Venus, Jupiter and the moon are photographed.
Venus, Jupiter and the moon are photographed.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The tranquil night sky is pictured from Taanayel Lake, Lebanon.
The tranquil night sky is pictured from Taanayel Lake, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Azar and Hajjar say Lebanon has a unique mix of qualities that make it an ideal spot for astrophotography.
Azar and Hajjar say Lebanon has a unique mix of qualities that make it an ideal spot for astrophotography.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Lebanon is a relatively small country, meaning the high peaks good for this type of pursuit are within easy reach of major cities such as Beirut.
Lebanon is a relatively small country, meaning the high peaks good for this type of pursuit are within easy reach of major cities such as Beirut.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Climbing high into the mountains means clearer skies and less light pollution from cities.
Climbing high into the mountains means clearer skies and less light pollution from cities.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The Lagoon and Triffid nebulae pictured from Akoura, Lebanon.
The Lagoon and Triffid nebulae pictured from Akoura, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
The California Nebula is pictured from Kfardebian, Lebanon.
The California Nebula is pictured from Kfardebian, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar
Shooting stars in rural Lebanon

Story highlights

Astrophotography is "booming" in Lebanon.

Groups of photographers are heading to remote locations to capture stunning night sky images.

CNN  — 

A burgeoning bar and club scene has earned Beirut a reputation as the Middle East’s party capital.

But it’s nightlife of a different kind that appeals to the star-chasers of BeirutVersus.

When darkness falls, the amateur astrophotography collective regularly heads out of the Lebanese capital to some of the country’s remotest locations

Their aim? To capture the beauty of the stars, constellations and galaxies above them.

“Everything in the sky screams to you ‘take a beautiful photo of me and discover me more’,” BeirutVesus founder Khalil Azar tells CNN.

“The more you concentrate on a single part of the sky, the more information you can build and the more interesting structures you can find.

“It’s always a process of discovery.”

The Antares and Cats Paw nebulae are pictured from the town of Akoura, Lebanon.
The Antares and Cats Paw nebulae are pictured from the town of Akoura, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar

Growing hobby

While astrophotography, the photography of astronomical objects, takes place worldwide, its popularity appears to be growing in Lebanon.

Roger Hajjar, an associate professor in astrophysics at Notre Dame University-Louaize near Beirut, says Lebanese astrophotography has been “booming these past few years.”

He puts this down to three things: good quality camera equipment becoming easily available; the rise of collectives such as BeirutVesus; and social media platforms giving their beautiful images a platform.

The Milky Way pictured from near Kfardebian, Lebanon.
The Milky Way pictured from near Kfardebian, Lebanon.
Courtesy BeirutVersus/Khalil Azar

Azar partakes primarily in “wide-field astrophotography” – this technique captures a broad field of view and can be carried out using commercially available cameras such as DSLRs.

Azar says his aim is to use the most “basic cameras (and lenses) possible to take the most advanced photos” he can.