LOOK TO THE STARS: DISCOVER ALULA’S ODYSSEUS ASTERISM UNDER THE DESERT SKY
Thursday 20th August 2025
Benjamin Barakat x AlUla Manara | Image credit: AlUla
There are few places where a story as old as The Odyssey feels quite so at home. In AlUla, Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert landscape, the tale of Odysseus has found a new stage - not on the page, but in the stars.
This summer, visitors to one of the world’s most remarkable dark-sky destinations can look upwards to discover a newly created asterism tracing the outline of Odysseus aboard his ship. The celestial formation, inspired by Homer’s epic voyage and its renewed cultural moment, is made up of ten stars representing the hero’s ten-year journey home following the Trojan War.
Rather than an official constellation, the Odysseus formation is an interpretive asterism: a contemporary star pattern rooted in the ancient human tradition of finding stories and meaning in the night sky. Its position is no coincidence. The ten stars stretch across Boötes, Hercules and Corona Borealis, with Boötes in particular referenced in Homer’s account of Odysseus’ journey.
The result is an experience that feels particularly suited to AlUla, where ancient history and extraordinary natural landscapes continually intersect. As darkness settles over the sandstone valleys, guided stargazing experiences invite visitors to find the formation for themselves, while learning about the constellations, navigation and the stories that have travelled across civilisations for millennia.
Odysseus Asterism Landscape | Image credit: AlUla
And this is a destination where the stars truly have room to shine. AlUla encompasses more than 6,000 square kilometres of protected Dark Sky Parks, with its skies ranked among the darkest five per cent in the world. Far from the glow of major cities, the desert offers the rare sensation of seeing the night sky almost as generations before us would have experienced it.
The Odysseus asterism is visible across the Northern Hemisphere through September and is best viewed shortly after sunset. For those fortunate enough to witness it, Homer’s voyage becomes something more than a story: for a moment, it becomes a journey written across the sky.
AlUla’s celestial ambitions are only beginning. The future AlUla Manara, designed by Heatherwick Studio, will further establish the destination as a global centre for astronomy, combining stargazing with scientific research, education and immersive experiences.
Explore the night skies, ancient landscapes and extraordinary experiences.
Visit AlUla and plan your journey beneath the stars.
