Atmospheric turbulence characterization at AlUla Manara Observatory in Saudi Arabia: early results from SHIMM operations

The AlUla Manara Observatory is being developed by the Royal Commission for AlUla in north-western Saudi Arabia as

the country’s first research-grade astronomical facility. Located on a remote desert plateau at ~1209 m elevation and within

an International Dark Sky Park established in 2024, the site is planned to host a 4m-class optical-IR telescope.

A comprehensive site characterization campaign began in April 2025 with the deployment of an Astronomical Site Monitor

(ASM). Its core instrument, a 24-hour Shack-Hartmann Image Motion Monitor (24hSHIMM), provides continuous

measurements of atmospheric turbulence and estimates of its vertical distribution. Additional instrumentation includes an

RPG-HATPRO radiometer for precipitable water vapor (PWV), aerosol sensors, and meteorological stations for vertical

microclimate characterization.

This work presents the first results from SHIMM operations, analyzing the temporal behavior and vertical structure of

atmospheric turbulence under desert conditions and early assessment of the site’s suitability for adaptive optics assisted

observations.