Rabeea Al Kuwari’s image of ‘The Leo Trio’ consists of the galaxies Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy.
Doha, Qatar: Rabeea Al Kuwari, an engineer working in Qatar’s oil and gas industry, has recently achieved something truly remarkable— his photograph, The Leo Trio, is the first astrophotography image from Qatar to be featured in NASA's prestigious Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) archive. This milestone places him among the ranks of some of the world’s most prominent astrophotographers, and a reward to his dedication and passion for exploring the universe "during clear moonless nights."
“When I was about seven years old, my mother bought me and my brother a telescope from the local toy store. We never got it to work, but the thought of what I could see if it actually worked stuck with me,” Al Kuwari told The Peninsula.
That early fascination with space stayed with him, even as he moved on to other interests. But it wasn’t until he was studying in the United States for his bachelor’s degree that the spark of curiosity flared up.
During a visit to an observatory, Al Kuwari saw Saturn’s rings through a telescope for the first time. “Seeing Saturn's rings made everything click for me. I knew right then that astrophotography was the hobby I’d been searching for.”
Al Kuwari’s journey from a beginner stargazer to a seasoned astrophotographer didn’t happen overnight. His first telescope, purchased in 2019, was a Newtonian designed primarily for visual observations, not astrophotography. At first, he used it to gaze at the moon, planets, and the occasional comet, but he quickly realized that his telescope had limitations when it came to capturing distant celestial objects.
By 2021, he upgraded to an astrophotography kit designed for deep-sky exploration—nebulae, galaxies, and other cosmic wonders. This upgrade allowed him to refine his skills and focus on capturing the beauty of the universe beyond what is visible to the naked eye.
This year, Al Kuwari’s breakthrough came with his photograph of The Leo Trio, a stunning capture of three galaxies in the Leo constellation. The photograph, which features the Hamburger Galaxy and its faint tail, was selected for NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 21, 2025. This achievement is a major milestone in his astrophotography career and one that places Qatar on the map in the world of space imaging.
The honour of being featured in NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day was something Al Kuwari never anticipated, and it fills him with immense pride. “Having my photo alongside images from the Hubble and James Webb telescopes is incredibly humbling. The same archive that holds iconic photos, like the first image of a Black Hole, now includes my work, and that means a lot to me.”
"I hope that 20 years from now, someone born on the day my image was featured, March 21, will look it up and see that it was taken by someone from Sawda Natheel in Qatar,” he told The Peninsula.
“Capturing this image was a real challenge. The tail of the Hamburger Galaxy is faint and delicate, and it took me three days of work just to get the processing right. I do most of my process in Pixinsight, which is the same program NASA uses to process their Hubble and James Webb telescope photos." Achieving the right balance of detail was key. Too much enhancement would ruin the subtle features of the galaxies, while too little would leave them underwhelming.
"The criteria for a photo to be selected for APOD aren’t very clear, but the images are reviewed by professional astronomers at NASA. They receive hundreds of submissions daily. If I had to guess, I’d say that in order for your photo to stand out, it has to be a scientifically accurate representation of the target you’re submitting," he explained.
Al Kuwari’s journey has also highlighted the importance of Qatar’s dark skies for astrophotography. Southern Qatar offers some of the darkest skies in the country, essential for capturing deep-sky objects. However, with urban sprawl encroaching, he is concerned about the future.
"By 2035, we risk losing these dark sky areas. It's crucial for the government to take action and designate the southern regions, south of Al Aamriya and Al Kharrara, as dark sky reserves. This will help preserve Qatar's last remaining window to the universe for future generations of stargazers."
As for his future in astrophotography, Al Kuwari doesn’t have a set plan, but also has no plans of slowing down. “Astrophotography is my stress reliever. I don’t focus on plans, I just enjoy the ride and the process of capturing new targets in the night sky. However, I dream of creating a national observatory in Qatar, where children can come and get inspired to pursue STEM studies.”
"If you're interested in starting astrophotography, buy a telescope and start shooting. There are new 'smart telescopes' that are perfect for beginners. And if you ever have questions, my DMs on Instagram are always open. I try my best to respond to everyone, so feel free to reach out with any queries about getting started in this amazing hobby," Al Kuwari said.
