Shooting the moon – Twin Cities

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Over the next two weeks, the moon will be very prominent in our sky, starting as a first quarter (half moon) on Monday and becoming a full moon a week later on July 3. It will be the first full moon of the astronomical summer. Without a doubt, moonlight, especially full moonlight, louse up the skies for good stargazing and astrophotography, which are near and dear to me. Despite that, I love, love, love full moons! I call it my magic moon time.

I love the names given to full moons by various cultures worldwide. One Native American name for the July full moon is the Full Buck Moon because this is when buck deer begin sprouting new antlers. It’s also called the Thunder Moon because of the more frequent thunderstorms this time of year. My favorite name for the July full moon comes from the ancient Chinese Buddhist tradition. They called it the Hungry Ghost Moon. I am still trying to figure out why.

Whatever you call the July full moon, you can’t help but notice that it’s a low rider and doesn’t rise very high in the sky. That’s one of the reasons I love full-moon gazing this time of year. You can moon gaze for an extended time without extending your neck as much!

Full moon
(Mike Lynch)

Not only is it nice to take in the July moon, but you can also have a lot of fun taking pictures of it. You don’t need a fancy camera; even your cell phone can do a pretty good job if you do it right. A zoom lens and exposure control can help so the image doesn’t get washed out.

You can take fantastic moon pictures through a small to moderate telescope. Hold your camera or phone over the eyepiece as steady as possible, which can be challenging. I suggest you keep hitting the shutter button or icon; hopefully, you’ll get some decent shots. If possible, rig up a tripod or something else to help steady your camera or phone over the eyepiece. You can also purchase an adapter that attaches to your telescope and eyepiece. One I recommend is the Orion SteadyPix EZ Smartphone Telescope Photo Adapter

Orion SteadyPix EZ Smartphone Telescope Photo Adapter
Orion SteadyPix EZ Smartphone Telescope Photo Adapter (Mike Lynch)

Along with keeping the telescope steady, another essential thing is to start taking your shots through a low-magnification eyepiece with your telescope. That will have a much wider aperture than a high-magnification eyepiece. Once you get some low-magnification photos, see what you can do with a higher power.

Full moons are not my favorite to photograph through a telescope; I prefer pictures of the moon at other phases in its monthly cycle. Crescent moons, half moons, and even gibbous (football-shaped) moons are all fun to photograph. You can see more detail, especially what’s known as the terminator. That line divides the moon’s sunlit part and the part in shadow.

Once you get the photos, you can work with them a little in Photoshop or some other software, even within many smartphones, to make them look even brighter or sharper, although you shouldn’t have to do too much. You can also do some editing just with your phone. I was just amazed by the clarity. You can see details in the dark maria or plains on the moon and the mountains and craters, suitable enough to frame and hang on a wall in your home!

While you’re moon shooting or just moon gazing in the early evening eastern sky check out the low western sky. The very bright planet Venus and the much fainter Mars are in a close celestial conjunction or what I call a celestial hugging. On Friday, June 30, Mars will be just a little over three and a half degrees to the upper left of Venus. That’s about half the width of your fist at arm’s length. Just to the upper left of Mars is the moderately bright star Regulus.

Mike Lynch is an amateur astronomer and retired broadcast meteorologist for WCCO Radio in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He is the author of “Stars: a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations,” published by Adventure Publications and available at bookstores and adventurepublications.net. Mike is available for private star parties. You can contact him at [email protected].

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Illuminate ATL provides photography accessibility to underserved communities – WABE

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Illuminate ATL is a nonprofit organization with a mission to increase accessibility to photography education for underserved communities in the metro Atlanta area. They believe Atlanta’s arts community should reflect its varied and distinct populations and seek to make diverse representation a reality.

Sara Keith is the Director and owner of the Atlanta School of Photography and president and co-founder of Illuminate ATL. “City Lights” producer Summer Evans spoke with Keith via Zoom about the organization.

“There’s absolutely a need for photography education in these underserved areas because you have two barriers that we were seeing…the barrier of purchasing or obtaining cameras and equipment. Photography is not a cheap hobby or creative field. Historically, one of the reasons it’s been kept from a lot of people being able to experience it is because of that threshold. But, it was also the education part of it. We could give them the cameras, but they wouldn’t know what to do with it,” said Keith.

“So we said, ‘Ok, we need to fill these two niches that we were hearing from our program partners.’ And we were already so passionate about education, and we had already done a couple of programs, just one-offs with like the Boys and Girls Club and Cool Girls. We decided to develop it into an official non-profit organization, so we launched in 2018.”



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Unlocking the Power of Nature’s Playground

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Jessica Koehler

Jessica Koehler

John Muir once said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” These words beautifully capture nature’s profound impact on our lives, especially when it comes to children. The benefits of immersing kids in the wonders of the natural world are far-reaching and extend beyond the evidence.

Why Should You Get Your Kids Outside?

Here are ten compelling evidence-based reasons to encourage your children to venture into the great outdoors and explore the wonders of the natural world:

  1. Exposure to natural environments lowers cortisol levels and reduces stress. Research has shown that spending time in nature effectively lowers levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress. For instance, forest bathing, a practice involving immersing oneself in a forest environment, significantly decreased cortisol levels. Daily nature immersion can reduce stress levels, particularly for children facing heightened anxiety.
  2. Nature immersion improves mood and self-esteem. Being in natural environments has increased positive emotions and boosted self-esteem. A study revealed that participants who spent time in nature reported enhanced mood and higher self-esteem than those who spent time in urban settings. This positive impact on mood and self-esteem is especially beneficial for children who struggle with self-esteem or emotional regulation.
  3. Nature-based activities promote physical activity and healthy development. Outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and playing in the park encourage physical movement, contributing to maintaining good health. Research has shown that children who spend more time outdoors engage in higher physical activity levels, leading to better cardiovascular health and overall physical development.
  4. Nature enhances cognitive function and problem-solving skills. Exposure to natural environments has been found to improve cognitive performance. Research revealed that interacting with nature improved attention, memory, and creativity. Furthermore, nature-based activities enhance problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Children with attention deficits show improved concentration and cognitive performance after spending time in nature.
  5. Nature fosters a sense of respect and appreciation for the environment. Spending time in nature allows children to learn about the natural world and understand the importance of protecting it. This knowledge instills a sense of responsibility and stewardship. Nature experiences in childhood have been linked to greater environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviors in adulthood.
  6. Nature enhances creativity and imagination. Nature inspires children and stimulates their imagination. Research indicates that preschoolers’ exposure to nature increases creativity and imaginative play.
  7. Nature-based activities promote social skills and cooperation. Outdoor activities involving teamwork and collaboration foster social skills and effective communication. Nature-based programs improve children’s social skills, including empathy, sharing, and cooperation.
  8. Nature encourages independence and self-confidence. Nature-based activities often involve taking risks and exploring new environments, promoting independence and self-confidence. Outdoor play in natural environments facilitates the development of self-confidence and independence in children.
  9. Nature promotes a sense of adventure and exploration. Outdoor activities provide children with opportunities to explore and discover new environments, cultivating a sense of adventure and curiosity.
  10. Nature strengthens parent-child attachment and promotes family bonding. Engaging in nature-based activities creates shared experiences and memories that reinforce the parent-child relationship. When parents and children spend time in nature, they can connect meaningfully. This shared experience promotes a sense of closeness and trust, which is essential for building healthy attachments.

How Do We Get Our Kids Outside?

With these ten convincing reasons to get your kids outside to explore the natural world, consider these practical ways to incorporate more nature experiences into children’s lives:

  1. Schedule regular outdoor outings. Set aside dedicated time each week for outdoor activities such as hikes, nature walks, or visits to local parks. Make it a priority in your family’s schedule.
  2. Plan nature-themed family vacations. Choose destinations that offer opportunities for outdoor adventures, such as camping trips, beach vacations, or visits to national parks. Immerse your family in the beauty of nature during these memorable getaways.
  3. Join nature-based organizations and clubs. Look for local nature-based organizations, clubs, or community programs offering children’s activities and events. These can include nature camps, hiking groups, or wildlife conservation initiatives.
  4. Incorporate nature into daily routines. Find ways to integrate nature into your everyday life. Walk or bike to nearby destinations instead of driving, have meals outside, or designate specific times for unstructured play in natural settings.
  5. Use technology for nature exploration. Use apps, websites, or online resources to identify plants, birds, or wildlife species during outdoor adventures.
  6. Encourage nature-inspired hobbies. Support your child’s interests in nature-related hobbies such as photography, painting, or nature journaling. These activities allow them to express their creativity while deepening their connection to the natural world.
  7. Organize nature scavenger hunts. Create scavenger hunts or nature-themed challenges encouraging children to observe and interact with the environment. These activities can be done in local parks or even in your neighborhood.
  8. Be a role model. Set an example by demonstrating your love for nature and spending time outdoors. Show enthusiasm and curiosity about the natural world and involve your children in nature-related activities or hobbies.

Pursuing Wild Delight

Amid a society becoming ever more detached from the natural world, it is essential to heed the wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once remarked, “In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.” By embracing the multitude of benefits that spending time in nature offers, we can cultivate the growth of resilient, content, and well-rounded individuals who prioritize their well-being and exhibit a deep connection to the planet’s well-being.

Let’s inspire and motivate children to venture outdoors, inhale the invigorating freshness of the air, and embark on a journey of discovery amidst the enchanting wonders that the great outdoors holds.

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Google Pixel Fold review: Google nails the foldable experience in all the best ways

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Two-minute preview

The Google Pixel Fold arrives a little late to the foldable party but, based on my time with the device, it’s a smartphone/tablet combo that mostly delights, and which is sure to earn a place among our ranking of the best Foldable Phones.

From its construction, including its precision hinge, to its high-resolution screens, the Pixel Fold is a well-thought-out Android phone that’s equally at home as a small-screen, but thick, 5.8-inch phone or, unfolded, as a 7.6-inch mini tablet. 

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NY Times appoints Kendall-Ball photo department staff editor

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The following excerpt was sent out from The New York Times’ Meaghan Looram and Clinton Cargill:

Greg Kendall-Ball

We are delighted to welcome Greg Kendall-Ball to the Photo department as a staff editor. He will join the digital team, focused on Live and Express coverage and home screen curation, reporting to Clinton.

Greg began his journalism career writing and photographing features and news for The Abilene Reporter-News in Texas. After four years there, he left to pursue a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Since graduating, he has worked at The Washington Post and Nature, and in the commercial photography world. He became a freelance photo editor for The Times in 2020.

Greg has worked across many desks but has spent most of his time with the International desk, helping in our coverage of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the fall of Kabul, the assassination of the Haitian president, the U.S. immigration crisis and most recently our coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Please join us in giving Greg a warm welcome.

— Meaghan and Clinton



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Katara Announces Winners Of Ramadan Photography Contest

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(MENAFN- the peninsula) the peninsula

doha, qatar: the cultural village foundation, katara announced the winners of its photography competition, which is part of the activities during its katara ramadan 2023.
this competition received wide participation from photography enthusiasts and the screening committee chose three winners: muhammad saeed fairouz, in the first place, ali abdul jabbar saif al din, in the second place, and the third place went to muhammad naguib nasr.
the first place winner will receive qr15,000; second place, qr10,000; and third place, qr5,000.
the competition stipulated that the submitted photo reflect the artistic vision of the subject of the competition, and also among the conditions is that each participant has the right to submit a maximum of three photos, while the institution has the right to use the winning photos in any of its activities, and the participation is considered approval of that.
katara’s ramadan programme this year included 23 diverse activities that included cultural, awareness and entertainment activities directed to different age groups of society, the most important of which is the islamic stamps exhibition at the postal museum in building 22 and the fine art and photography exhibition in building 18.
wisdom square hosted a ramadan art mural, the creativity square hosted the event of the storyteller’s stories, in addition to the religious events, including lectures and a quran memorisation competition for male and female children at katara mosque.
katara also launched a number of competitions and various prizes during its ramadan activities, including the katara prize for arabic poetry, and the katara ramadan competition for the short story, in addition to a number of sports and intellectual tournaments such as the katara popular games championship (kerem and dama) and the katara championship.
also included are katara electronic games, katara ramadan beach volleyball championship and the katara international ramadan chess championship.

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For amateur astronomers, ‘star parties’ are the antidote to light-polluted skies

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COUDERSPORT, Pa. — Up a winding road that cuts through the Allegheny Plateau, hundreds of amateur astronomers in campers and pickups stream into northern Pennsylvania each spring and summer in search of one thing: stars.

It’s something they can’t get enough of in the halo of light pollution that surrounds most cities. By contrast, Cherry Springs State Park, located about 135 miles northwest of Wilkes-Barre, is one of the very few truly dark sky sites in the entire eastern United States.

Twice a year, in June and September, park officials and local astronomy clubs team up to host “star parties” that draw people from as far away as Florida and Wisconsin. For these amateur astronomers, there’s no replacement for the inky-black skies that reveal what they affectionately refer to as “faint fuzzies” — dim and distant galaxies, star clusters and nebulae.

The weather, however, is always a wild card. Only the third and final night of the June event this year, timed to coincide with the new moon, delivers clear skies. Molly Wakeling is betting that will be enough to capture LDN 1262, a wispy nebula in the constellation Cepheus. She’s hoping to photograph it, something that would be impossible from her home in Dayton, Ohio.

Red lamps, used to preserve night vision for observing, are seen on a field at the Cherry Springs Star Party in northern Pennsylvania.

/ Wassana Laisukang

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Wassana Laisukang

Red lamps, used to preserve night vision for observing, are seen on a field at the Cherry Springs Star Party in northern Pennsylvania.

“I do the objects from the dark skies that are hard for me to do from home,” Wakeling says. A quick glance at a dark sky map makes clear why western Ohio is such a challenge for her, and why Cherry Springs is so inviting, even if it means waiting out clouds and rain.

Digital cameras have changed the game

Wakeling is part of a growing trend among amateur stargazers. Traditionally, “visual astronomers” have simply looked through an eyepiece to view objects that are often thousands — or even millions — of light-years away. In recent years, however, sensitive digital cameras have brought amateur astrophotography into its own. Long and multiple exposures collect much more light than the human eye and can then be “stacked” to assemble extraordinary images, as evidenced by Wakeling’s online gallery.

Eric Roth, a past president of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, which organizes the annual star party, says 550 people registered for this year’s event, with another 400 on a waitlist. That tops the previous record set in 2022. He says the switch from visual astronomy to astrophotography is “a big-time change” that seems to have really taken off around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roth considers himself an old-school, through-the-eyepiece “strictly visual astronomer.” But today “it seems like everybody is going now for astrophotography.”

He doesn’t think that is a bad thing. It’s helping pass the amateur astronomy baton to a new generation. “We’re skewing younger than we used to, which is good,” Roth says. He surmises that it’s because the gadgetry of astrophotography appeals more to a younger demographic.

Amateur astronomer Molly Wakeling sets up her telescope and camera equipment to capture an especially faint nebula at the Cherry Springs Star Party in northern Pennsylvania.

/ Scott Neuman/NPR

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Scott Neuman/NPR

Amateur astronomer Molly Wakeling sets up her telescope and camera equipment to capture an especially faint nebula at the Cherry Springs Star Party in northern Pennsylvania.

Trinna Cuellar, 41, lives in New Jersey and has also recently gotten into astrophotography. She talks about her telescope gear the way some people talk about a prized sports car — citing specs and rattling off lingo.

Cuellar has brought her son, Lev, who is almost 11, to Cherry Springs so he can get his first glimpse of “the galaxy we live in” — the Milky Way, she says.

She was first at Cherry Springs as a child and credits the experience with sparking her interest in astronomy. “My first time here, I think I was 7 or 8 years old,” she says. “We came to see the stars, and I was just blown away.”

A few years ago, at the start of the pandemic, she took the leap into astrophotography.

Skip Bird, a retired science teacher, stands next to his telescope last week at Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania.

/ Scott Neuman/NPR

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Scott Neuman/NPR

Skip Bird, a retired science teacher, stands next to his telescope last week at Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania.

“I love the creative freedom,” Cuellar says. “There’s a lot of flexibility in how you put together that final image.”

“I can actually create something that kind of resembles a Hubble image,” she says, referencing NASA’s famed Hubble Space Telescope.

An escape from light pollution

While the dark skies of Cherry Springs benefit all amateur astronomers, with filters and other workarounds, astrophotographers can mitigate some of the light pollution issues they experience at home. For visual astronomers such as 69-year-old Wayne Petko, though, dark skies are a must.

That’s why he’s been coming to Cherry Springs from his home in New Jersey for the past quarter-century — and not just for star parties but for new moons throughout the summer, when there’s usually 50 to 100 other enthusiasts on the observing field with him, he says.

Wayne Petko, who lives in New Jersey, has been coming to observe under the exceptionally dark skies at Cherry Springs for a quarter-century.

/ Scott Neuman/NPR

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Scott Neuman/NPR

Wayne Petko, who lives in New Jersey, has been coming to observe under the exceptionally dark skies at Cherry Springs for a quarter-century.

Petko belongs to the New Jersey Astronomical Association, whose observatory is at a state park situated west of New York City and about 40 miles north of Trenton, where “there’s been a gradual upswing in light pollution.”

In fact, Petko’s observation about an upsurge in light pollution is backed by data. A study published earlier this year in the journal Science indicates that on average, the night sky has gotten nearly 10% brighter each year from 2011 to 2022.

That would probably come as no surprise to Stephen Alba, who lives “15 minutes from Newark Airport,” where the stars are hidden by a hazy glow. He, his wife and young son arrived at the Cherry Springs party without a truck full of complicated astronomy gear — just a simple pair of binoculars.

“We want to see the Milky Way,” Alba says, smiling. “We’re just here to experience it.”

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.



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THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Another photography goal accomplished | Lifestyles

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One of my photography goals this spring was to capture a mother goose on her nest the day the goslings were hatched. It was not an easy task as the nest had to be in a location that was close enough to the road for me to use my vehicle as a blind. This would also allow me to condition the goose to my presence and she would become comfortable with me nearby in the vehicle. The other hard part was that goslings leave the nest about 24 hours after hatching, making timing a critical factor.

Geese usually nest on an “island” in the water, such as a muskrat house, where it is easier to defend and protect from predators. They usually hatch out in 28 days and after one day abandon the nest, never to return.

I spotted three nests near the road, and they were pretty much free of vegetation that would obstruct a good, clear shot. Two of the nests hatched and the geese left before I could try to photograph them.

The third nest was not too far from my house, so I could check it more often. Sometimes I parked nearby for awhile just so the goose would get used to my presence and act naturally. After a time she recognized me and would actually fall asleep with her head up while I was there. The gander also quieted down and quit honking and threatening me whenever I stopped by.

I had just returned from some errands and drove down to check the nest. Bang! There were three cute little yellow goslings next to the mother goose on the nest.

The lighting conditions were not good — I had to shoot into the evening light, which switched from overcast to sun constantly — but this was my chance.

The goslings quickly scooted back under mom for warmth and to snooze. The gander stood guard next to the muskrat house upon which the nest was made, and neither parent showed any alarm at my close presence.

Knowing the goslings would periodically come out from underneath mom and romp around her, I settled in for the wait. My hope was to eventually catch one of them poking his head out from between her body and wing.

As I sat in the comfort of my car (no hard seat or cramped blind today!) I thought about some other good shots I got from this spot while preparing the parent geese for my appearance. One morning as I pulled up to the spot, a little green heron flushed from the cattails and landed in a nearby tree. He stayed long enough to allow me a few good images. The next day he did the same thing and I got better shots.

Another day while “training” the geese, I saw a yellow flash in a bushy red maple tree between the goose nest and me. It was a yellow warbler looking for food in the tree. He darted around, making it almost impossible to get a good shot, but patience won out, eventually.

Then, suddenly, another bird showed up and the yellow warbler chased it off. Lucky for me it came back and turned out to be a yellow-rumped warbler, a bird I had not previous seen. It too eventually gave me a few good shots.

Other birds such as turkey vultures, ospreys, red-winged blackbirds and great blue herons also gave me good shots from this spot.

The morning after I photographed the goslings, I returned to that spot hoping to catch them again before they left, but with better lighting. As it turns out, I did, and I got better shots.

There was one egg left that I could see when the mother goose got up. The three goslings got very active and wanted to explore and so she covered that last egg (which I think was not fertile) and they left the nest that was on the muskrat house.

The parents brought the goslings up to the road edge, by me, to let them pick at insects and dirt. I felt privileged to witness this with the parents acting like I was not there. That is what makes nature photography so worthwhile for those of us who enjoy it and its challenges.

• • •

The snapping turtles are finishing their egg laying process, which has been ongoing since the beginning of the month. I have never seen so many snapping turtles in the Alabama Swamps, and their average size is much bigger, too. I believe the state needs to adjust its management plan on these guys soon or our local waterfowl production is going to take a big hit. Snapping turtles take a lot of young waterfowl and even the adults.

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Best cameras for astrophotography 2023: Shoot for the stars

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Finding the best cameras for astrophotography means capturing some of the most beautiful photographs possible of our night sky. Here at Space.com, we have explored and reviewed a whole host of models and we’ve rounded up the ones that will help you capture the best astrophotography images. 

Above each camera’s description, you’ll find which retailers are selling that model and the best prices to help you narrow down your search. We have chosen a range of versatile cameras that will complement all photography styles, but astrophotography is one thing they do exceptionally well.

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Katara names photography contest winners

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The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) yesterday announced the winners of the first three places in the photography competition, dedicated to selecting the best picture for the activities of Katara Ramadan Events 2023.
The competition was widely attended by photography enthusiasts.
Saeed Mohamed Fayrouz won the first place and earned QR15,000; Ali Abduljabbar Saifaldeen came in second and received a prize of QR10,000; and Mohamed Naguib Nasr came in the third spot and earned QR5,000.
The photography competition stipulated that the submitted photo reflect the artistic vision of the subject of the competition, and among the conditions was that each participant has the right to submit a maximum of three photos, while the foundation has the right to use the winning photos in any of its activities and the participation is considered approval of that.
The Katara Ramadan Events 2023 included a variety of activities that included cultural activities, awareness-raising, and entertainment events directed to different age groups of society. The most important of these were the Islamic Stamps Exhibition, and the Fine Art and Photography Exhibition. Wisdom Square hosted a Ramadan artistic mural, while Creativity Square hosted a narrator stories. Religious events including lectures and the Holy Qur’an Memorisation Competition for male and female children at the Katara Mosque.
Katara also launched several competitions and distributed various awards during its Ramadan activities, including the Katara Prize for Arabic Poetry (Mothers of the Believers), the Katara Short Story Competition, and many sports and intellectual tournaments such as the Katara Traditional Brain Games Competition (Damen and Kerem), Katara Electronic Games Championship, Katara Ramadan Championship Volleyball 2023, and the Katara Ramadan Chess Open 2023, in addition to various activities, and events of the World Theatre Day 2023. (QNA)

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