UAE Observatory Captures Rare ‘Blue Flash’ From Deep Space

Dubai has joined a small group of global observatories contributing to the study of one of astronomy’s most mysterious phenomena, after the Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory, operating under the International Astronomical Centre, successfully captured a rare cosmic event known as a fast blue optical burst (LFBOT).

The observation was made using the observatory’s primary 14-inch telescope as part of a transient-events follow-up programme designed to track short-lived, high-energy phenomena from deep space. Such events are exceptionally difficult to study due to their sudden appearance and rapid fading.

Astronomers employed rapid photometry techniques to measure changes in the object’s brightness over very short time intervals. Initial readings revealed a sharp decline in luminosity in the blue wavelength, a defining characteristic of LFBOTs.

On the first day of observation, the object registered a magnitude of 17.22 in the blue filter. By the following day, it had faded to 17.45, confirming the rapid decay pattern typically associated with these rare cosmic flashes.

To better understand the event’s behaviour, the team used three optical filters - blue, green, and near-infrared - allowing scientists to track brightness variations across multiple wavelengths and construct a broader light profile of the phenomenon.

Mohammed Shawkat Odeh, Director of the International Astronomical Centre, said early detection and fast response are crucial when studying such events.

“These phenomena evolve extremely quickly, sometimes within just a few days,” he said. “Ground-based observatories like Al Khatim play a vital role in global efforts to capture early data before these objects fade beyond detection.”

Fast blue optical bursts remain poorly understood, with scientists debating whether they originate from unusual stellar explosions, compact object mergers, or entirely new astrophysical processes. Each new observation adds valuable data to an evolving global database aimed at decoding their origin.

The successful tracking of this event further strengthens the UAE’s growing role in international astronomical research and highlights the contribution of regional observatories to frontier space science.