World’s first 3D Astronomy Resort Program by Soneva Fushi

Soneva, the world-leading luxury resort operator, is the first in the world to bring the 3D astronomy experience to its guests, with the introduction of a brand-new Meade telescope at the Observatory at Soneva Fushi, its flagship resort in the Baa Atoll of the Maldives.

Now, the resident astronomers at Soneva Fushi will be able to show guests the vast differences in distance between stars and other celestial objects – enabling guests to gain a new appreciation of the nature of space with their own eyes.

“Astronomy is a fascinating field of study, and I believe that at Soneva we must constantly strive to improve how our guests experience it. This 3D technology is a leap in advancement for astronomy, allowing our guests a very unique way to view, and better understand, the galaxy,” said Soneva CEO and founder, Sonu Shivdasani. Mike Dalley, CEO of Inspiring Skies, the company responsible for installing the new telescope and 3D technology at Soneva Fushi, explains: “This new technology will help revolutionize how we offer astronomy experiences to guests, as it gives depth of field to what people see while looking through the telescope. It means that, for example, while looking at an open cluster, some stars will appear closer while others further away.” The inventor of the Lederman Optical Array (LOA) 3D technology, Russ Lederman, also added: “The LOA 3D technology allows live 3D astronomy views for the first time in history and at this time, Soneva is the only resort to have the 3D astronomy.”

Over the recent New Year’s Eve holiday period, Soneva Fushi hosted the award-winning astronomer, Professor Massimo Tarenghi, who shared his vast knowledge of the universe with guests. The Italian astronomer is known for building and directing the world’s most powerful optical telescope (the Very Large Telescope, or VLT).

Throughout 2018, Soneva will welcome a number of influential and well-known astronomers to its Observatories to share their expertise and experiences of the night skies. In 2015, Soneva welcomed the renowned American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who gave a lecture to guests about his moon landing. Soneva leads the way for astronomy tourism in the Maldives, already operating two observatories, one at Soneva Fushi and the other at Soneva Jani, housing the biggest telescopes in the Maldives. Soneva Kiri on the island of Koh Kood in Thailand also boasts a large observatory. The resorts offer a variety of astronomy-related experiences to guests, such as an Astronomical Dinner Cruise, Sunrise astronomical breakfast, and stargazing with the resorts’ on-site astronomers.