An interest in astronomy can thrive under the harshest of conditions.  Despite years of difficulties in their country, a small group of enthusiasts recently founded the first astronomy club in Iraq.  The Amateur Astronomy Association of Kurdistan (AAAK) is based in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region in the mountainous north bordering Turkey and Iran.  The violence that wracks much of their country is absent here, and the AAAK takes advantage of this relative peace to conduct observing sessions and seminars.  Conditions are still difficult, though, in a country that has been isolated from the rest of the world for many years.

AAAK recently got a big boost from support offered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).  The KRG has provided AAAK with a new headquarters to use as the center of their activities.  AAAK holds seminars for special events and conducts observing session for the public.  And through a new relationship with the army of South Korea (the only coalition force based in Iraqi Kurdistan) the AAAK recently began a program in schools supported by the South Korean army.

AAAK got a big boost from friends in the US as well.  Hearing of the plight of their fellow astronomy enthusiasts, members of AWB Affiliate the Orange County Astronomers donated surplus equipment for AAAK’s use in the fall of 2006.  With no way to purchase telescopes and other resources from other countries – and no way to even ship it to them – the equipment was delivered by Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) founder and President Mike Simmons when he visited Iraqi Kurdistan to write an article about the Iraqi National Astronomical Observatory for Scientific American.  This was not only the first official project for AWB, it began a new era for AAAK and Iraqi Kurdistan.

For more information on the Amateur Astronomers Association of Kurdistan's see their Affiliate profile and their new web site .