Tehran Center for Sciences and Astronomy is located in the northernmost part of the capital city and is a venue for university lecturers and students who visit the place every day. A 16-year-old student lives just north of the center who despite his young age and educational status is observing galaxies, trying to find new worlds.

Object Name: The Great Orion Nebula (M42) Telescope: Meade 8" LX90 @ f/10 Camera: Canon EOS 300D Method: Prime Focus Exposure: 3 Minute @ iso 1600 Location: Damavand Edit in: Adobe Photoshop CS2 & MaximDL V4

He is named Shahriyar Davoudian, and he is 16 years old and has been born to art-loving and creative parents. Recently, several scientific journals of the United States which publish interesting photos and articles on astronomy have released new works of Shahriyar and have asked him to continue scientific cooperation with those journals.

In addition to studying at high school, Shahriyar spends much of his time studying and observing stars due to his penchant for astronomy. When asked about his interest in and love for astronomy, he says, "I became interested in astronomy in late 2000 after seeing a television program on astronomy. Of course, since childhood, I had imaginations about stars every night when I looked up at them. They fascinated me. Afterwards, I learnt more about them by reading some simple books."

Full Moon Telescope: Meade 8" (8inch) LX90 with UHTC Camera: Canon EOS 300D Method: Prime Focus Location: Tehran-Iran Exposure: 1/320 @ iso 400 4 Frame Mosaic Processed with Adobe Photoshop CS1&CS2

He added, "In the summer of 2001, I participated in a scientific tour of Tehran Center for Sciences and Astronomy and asked questions from one of the experts who gave answers to many enquiries which had occupied my mind for a long time. In the winter of the same year, I took part in the center’s classes which turned my established interest into a goal for my future.

I became interested in photography because I was observing stars in a big city like Tehran which is full of light. Since I was a beginner in astronomy, I did not go to deserts and other desolated areas, so I could not discern many details about celestial bodies that I observed. I knew that I can enhance those details through photography. Therefore, I started photography as an amateur and in less than one year, I could master all photography methods in astronomy. From that time, I have been able to discover celestial bodies in the way that I had imagined about. Now, I can turn part of my feelings about various environments in the cosmos into reality. I also want to thank my parents and teachers."