SIRIUS astronomy association

SIRIUS astronomy association (Arabic: جمعية الشعرى لعلم الفلك, abbreviated SIRIUS) is an Algerian cultural, educational and scientific association focused on astronomy. It was founded in June 1996 in Constantine, the capital of eastern Algeria, and operates under the statute of a wilaya-based (provincial) cultural, educational and scientific association. The association is named after the star Sirius (الشعرى), and its emblem references a verse from the Quran (An-Najm 53:49). It is regarded as one of the most active astronomy associations in the Arab world and Africa. The association is based in Constantine and has grown from a small founding group into an organisation with more than sixty members. It runs weekly lectures and workshops, a youth club that meets weekly, and extensive outreach programmes for educational institutions across Algeria, covering science generally and astronomy in particular. It also produces a semi-monthly radio programme on astronomy and science broadcast on Cirta FM. SIRIUS is known for its national and regional activities. It organises the National Festival of Popular Astronomy, an annual gathering that has reached its 21st edition, scheduled for 30 April–2 May 2026 in Constantine. It also runs the Cirta-Science contest, now in its tenth edition, and participates in national events such as the National Fair of Scientific Research Products (Salon National des Produits de la Recherche Scientifique) at SAFEX in Algiers, where it has presented planetarium shows and the large 'Cosmic Symphonia' exhibit. Its members have taken part in international events, including the 2017 solar eclipse in Chicago and astronomy training camps in Djerba, Tunisia. In 2009 the association adopted the Arabic-language version of NASA and Michigan Technological University's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) project, making daily astronomy images and scientific descriptions available to Arabic speakers. It also publishes the free bimonthly electronic magazine 'Sirius Scientific Magazine' (مجلة الشعرى العلمية) in Arabic, with Arab and international contributions, aimed at simplifying astronomy for the general public and spreading scientific culture. The association's website, created in early 1998 as part of the personal site of founding member Chaouki Boulahouache and later moved to its own domain, is described by the association as the first Algerian scientific, astronomical and cultural site based in Algeria. Despite limited official support — its president Jamal Mimouni has noted that its support 'does not equal the share of the last neighbourhood football association' — SIRIUS has expanded its activities nationally, regionally and internationally.

SIRIUS astronomy association was created in June 1996 in Constantine, the capital of eastern Algeria, as a wilaya-based cultural, educational and scientific association. It is named after the star Sirius (الشعرى), and its emblem cites a verse from the Quran (An-Najm 53:49). The association is recognised as one of the most active astronomy associations in the Arab world and Africa. The association's website was created in early 1998 as part of the personal website of founding member Chaouki Boulahouache, who later left for graduate studies at Syracuse University. It was then moved to a Geocities location when the Internet reached Algeria in late 1998 and was completely overhauled in the process. The association describes it as the first Algerian scientific, astronomical and cultural site based in Algeria, noting that the only other significant Algerian astronomical site it was aware of was AR-RASSED from Tenes in western Algeria. From its early years, SIRIUS combined regular internal activities with public outreach. It has weekly lectures and workshops every Thursday and a youth club meeting every Monday afternoon, with some fifteen young members and growing. The association has around forty members according to its own history page, while the Arabic Wikipedia article states more than sixty members. It is strongly involved in outreach programmes for educational institutions in Algeria, covering various aspects of science in general and astronomy in particular. In 2009 the association adopted the launch of the Arabic version of the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) project, a site presented by NASA and Michigan Technological University that displays a daily astronomical image with a scientific description. It also publishes the free bimonthly electronic magazine 'Sirius Scientific Magazine' (مجلة الشعرى العلمية) in Arabic, with Arab and international contributions, aimed at simplifying astronomy for all segments of society and spreading scientific culture. The association also produces a semi-monthly radio programme on astronomy and science on Cirta FM. SIRIUS organises the National Festival of Popular Astronomy, an annual event that has reached its 21st edition, scheduled for 30 April–2 May 2026 in Constantine. It also runs the Cirta-Science contest, which reached its tenth edition (Cirta-Science X) in 2018, and participates in national events such as the National Fair of Scientific Research Products (Salon National des Produits de la Recherche Scientifique) at SAFEX in Algiers in May 2017, where seven members manned a stand and planetarium shows, and the 'Cosmic Symphonia' exhibit spanned the Expo area. Its members have taken part in international activities, including the 21 August 2017 solar eclipse in Chicago and astronomy training camps in Djerba, Tunisia, in March 2018. The association has faced limited official support. Its president, Jamal Mimouni, has said that its support 'does not equal the share of the last neighbourhood football association', adding that despite difficulties and obstacles, this has not prevented its activities from expanding nationally, regionally and even globally, to the point that the association is classified as one of the most active associations working in the field.

• 2026

  21st National Festival in Popular Astronomy scheduled for 30 April–2 May 2026 in Constantine, Algeria.

• 2018

  The 16th National Astronomy Festival held 22–24 March 2018; Djerba 2nd Astronomy Training Camp held 17–21 March 2018.

• 2018

  Concluding Cirta-Science X contest on 7 April 2018.

• 2017

  SIRIUS participates in the National Fair of Scientific Research Products at SAFEX, Algiers, with a stand and planetarium shows.

• 2017

  Cirta-Science9 team attends the 21 August solar eclipse in Chicago.

• 2009

  Association adopts the Arabic version of the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) project.

• 1998

  Association website created in early 1998 as part of founding member Chaouki Boulahouache's personal site; moved to its own domain in late 1998.

• 1996

  SIRIUS astronomy association founded in Constantine, Algeria.

A volunteer-driven Algerian astronomy association focused on public outreach, education and popularisation of astronomy, recognised as one of the most active astronomy associations in the Arab world and Africa.

• National Festival of Popular Astronomy

  Annual astronomy festival organised by SIRIUS; the 21st edition is scheduled for 30 April–2 May 2026 in Constantine.

• Cirta-Science contest

  Science contest run by SIRIUS; the tenth edition (Cirta-Science X) concluded in April 2018.

• Arabic APOD mirror

  Arabic-language version of NASA and Michigan Technological University's Astronomy Picture of the Day, adopted by SIRIUS in 2009.

• Sirius Scientific Magazine

  Free bimonthly electronic magazine in Arabic, with Arab and international contributions, aimed at popularising astronomy.

• Radio programme on Cirta FM

  Semi-monthly radio programme on astronomy and science.

1. 1Sirius Astronomy Associationsiriusalgeria.net
2. 2SIRIUS Astronomy Association - Historysiriusalgeria.net
3. 3Celebrating Science and its applicationssiriusalgeria.net
4. 4SIRIUS astronomy association - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5جمعية الشعرى لعلم الفلك - ويكيبيدياar.wikipedia.org