The Emirates Astronomical Observatory has announced the discovery of three variable stars named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The Head of the team, Nezar Hezam Sallam, said the discovery is officially registered and recognised by the American Association of Variable Star Observers.

He said the stars were photographed using a special astronomical camera that has a cooling temperature of -30°C.

Sallam said variable Zayed Star V1 star is located in the Vulpecula constellation, Zayed Star V2 in Perseus, and Zayed Star V3 in Camelopardalis.

Last year, an Abu Dhabi resident and his team discovered two planets outside the solar system, that was about a billion years old.