Abdelmajid Benhida at the Oukaimeden Observatory.Credit: Abdelmajid Benhida
Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains are home to some of Africa’s darkest skies, making them an ideal location for astronomical research. Over the past two decades, the Oukaïmeden Observatory has grown into an internationally connected centre for astrophysics, attracting collaborations from around the world while training a new generation of African astronomers.
Abdelmajid Benhida, professor of physics at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech and the Observatory’s director, has helped shape that journey. Also trained in sensors and instrumentation, he has contributed to the development of Morocco’s astronomical facilities, participated in site-testing campaigns for future international telescopes, and mentored young researchers through initiatives such as the Oukaïmeden International School for Astrophysics.
Nature Africa spoke to Benhida about the lessons he has learned from building observatories, mentoring young scientists and helping establish Morocco as a centre for African astronomy.
How did your young years shape your journey into astronomy?
I grew up in a small village in southern Morocco, far from large cities and bright lights. The night sky was exceptionally clear and, as a child, I spent countless hours looking up at the stars wondering about the immensity of the universe.
At the same time, I became fascinated by electronics and communication systems. The idea that invisible signals could travel across great distances captured my imagination. Telescopes, detectors and sensors allow us to receive and interpret signals that have travelled across the universe itself.
Looking back, I realise how fortunate I was to grow up under such pristine skies. It taught me that even from a small village, it is possible to dream about the universe and contribute to our understanding of it.
You trained as an engineer before becoming a leading figure at the Oukaïmeden Observatory. How has that influenced the way you think as a scientist and institution-builder?
My doctoral training in sensors and instrumentation, combined with my teaching experience at both an engineering school in France and the Faculty of Sciences and Technology in Marrakech, gave me a strong foundation for astrophysics because modern astronomy depends on sophisticated instruments as much as on powerful telescopes. Understanding how to design reliable measurement systems and process complex signals has shaped the way I approach both research and scientific infrastructure.
One of my first major projects involved site-testing campaigns to characterise the Aklim site in southern Morocco as a potential location for the future Extremely Large Telescope. At the same time, I helped develop and install a spectrophotometric instrument at the Oukaïmeden Observatory to study pulsating stars.
That instrument is still used for both research and student training. Using a relatively modest 35-centimetre telescope and spectroscopic facility, we obtained observations comparable to those from much larger observatories, including the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.
Our work led to the first detection of the second helium D₃ emission in RR Lyrae stars. That experience reinforced my belief that scientific excellence depends not only on the size of a telescope but also on the quality of the observing site, the ingenuity of the instrumentation and the dedication of the people behind it.
What has working in Morocco’s mountain observatories taught you?
Oukaïmeden teaches humility. At nearly 2,800 metres above sea level, weather conditions, snow and technical challenges constantly remind us that science requires patience. You cannot control nature, but you can learn to adapt to it.
Earlier in my career, I spent almost three years working on site-characterisation campaigns in remote mountain areas. Beyond the science, those years were an extraordinary human experience. I came to know local communities whose generosity, resilience and willingness to help often made our work possible under difficult conditions.
Those experiences taught me that scientific projects are never only about technology or data. They are also about trust, cooperation and the people who support them.
What was the greatest challenge in building astronomy infrastructure in Morocco?
The greatest challenges were rarely scientific. They were logistical and institutional.
During the Aklom site-testing campaigns, transporting delicate scientific equipment to an altitude of about 2,500 metres was extremely difficult because there was almost no infrastructure. At one stage, the Moroccan Army helped transport equipment and supplies by helicopter.
At the Oukaïmeden Observatory, our challenge was to convince international partners that Morocco could support world-class astronomy. We focused on producing rigorous science and demonstrating the quality of our observing sites. The success of the Aklim campaign helped establish Morocco’s credibility and encouraged international teams to install their instruments at Oukaïmeden.1
Looking back, I am proud that what began as an ambitious vision has become an internationally recognised observatory that supports research, education and collaboration.
What do you hope young African astronomers feel when they first analyse data collected on their own continent?
Above all, I hope they feel confidence.
For many years, major astronomical facilities seemed distant and inaccessible to African students. Working with data collected on the continent shows that world-class science can be carried out here.
At the Oukaïmeden Observatory, we organise annual training schools, including through the Oukaïmeden International School for Astrophysics, together with programmes linked to projects such as the Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST). These experiences help students gain practical experience in observational astronomy, data analysis and international research collaborations.
I hope they leave believing that they are not simply learning science but contributing to it, and that the next major scientific discoveries could come from African researchers working on African soil.
What has mentoring young scientists taught you?
The next generation continually impresses me with its creativity, adaptability and determination.
What many young scientists need is not talent, but opportunity. They need access to modern facilities, experienced mentors, international collaborations and real scientific data. Early in my own career, those opportunities were much harder to find.
One of my greatest satisfactions is seeing former students establish successful careers at leading observatories, universities and research institutes around the world. Their achievements are among the most important contributions we can make to the future of African astronomy.
What would success for African astronomy mean to you in the decades ahead?
I hope the Oukaïmeden Observatory continues to serve as a gateway to science for young people across Morocco and the rest of Africa.
Success is measured not only by discoveries, but also by the opportunities we create. If students make their first astronomical observations here, build international collaborations and go on to have ambitious scientific careers, then we will have created something that lasts.
I also believe artificial intelligence will play a central role in the future of astronomy. Modern telescopes generate enormous volumes of data, and AI is already opening up new possibilities for analysis and discovery. I hope Oukaïmeden becomes a place where astronomy, data science and artificial intelligence come together to train the next generation of African researchers.
If Africa becomes not only a user of these technologies but also a creator of new scientific solutions, I will feel that we have helped transform the continent’s scientific landscape.
What is the dream you are still pursuing for the Oukaïmeden Observatory?
I would like Oukaïmeden to become an international hub for science, education and innovation while remaining one of Africa’s leading astronomical sites.
Just as importantly, I want us to protect one of our greatest scientific assets: the exceptional dark skies of the High Atlas Mountains. Preserving them from increasing light pollution is essential not only for astronomy, but also for education, scientific tourism and future generations.
Ultimately, I hope Oukaïmeden will be remembered not simply as an observatory, but as a place that helped position Morocco and Africa as active contributors to global science while inspiring generations of young scientists to pursue ambitious careers.