‘A’ for astronomy: Only 25 KSA stars shine in 30 years

Saudi Arabia, which has been making an effort over the past decade to produce more scientists, has been struggling with how to approach the science of investigating outer space.
During the past 30 years, the Kingdom has only produced 25 astronomers.
As NASA’s Curiosity Rover collects data on Mars daily and there is a renewed interest in the US in returning to the moon, the need to know about the stars, moons and planets appears to have taken a backseat among Saudi Arabia’s future scientists.
Some astronomers say one reason behind the low number of Saudis in the profession is the confusion among Muslims between astronomers and astrologists.
Astronomers study the universe. Astrologers attempt to predict the future by interpreting the stars.
“There is a tendency to mix up astronomy with astrology, which is commonly related to things such as fortune telling and horoscopes signs, which is forbidden by Islam,” said Majed Abu Zara, head of Astronomical Society in Jeddah.
“Astronomy is fundamentally and completely different from astrology,” said Mulehim Hindi, an astronomer and researcher at King Abdulaziz University Astronomy Department. “Astronomy is based on mathematical calculations, and perhaps without this knowledge, human beings were not going to be able to place satellites into the orbit, land on the moon, and send unmanned vehicles to Mars, or determine prayer times accurately and the start of the lunar months.”
Saleh Mohammed, general supervisor of the National Center of Astronomy, said there are moral issues.
“In general, disregard of astronomers’ opinion is the biggest moral obstacle facing them in the field,” Mohammed said. “Decision-makers view astronomy as luxury and not a necessary science.”
He said those decision-makers are unaware of astronomy as a science and the nature of scientists’ work.
“The problem of confusing astronomy for astrology has created a negative impact on astronomy’s reputation as a science,” Mohammed said. “It also shook people’s confidence in it and in accepting its outcomes.”