The Kaaba, located in the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is the holiest site in Islam. It is undoubtedly beautiful. But now, a stunning orbital photograph of Mecca has captivated many social media users. It was captured by NASA astronaut Don Pettit while on his fourth ISS mission. Here’s more on this.
Stunning Orbital Shot Of Mecca’s Kaaba Leaves Internet Amazed
Gleaming beautifully, the recent orbital photograph of the Kaaba in Mecca has stunned many social media users. It was clicked by Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut, photographer, and scientist. The image shows Islam’s holiest site and the focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage glowing brightly, clearly visible even from space.
The astronaut captioned the image as “Orbital views of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the centre is the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, visible even from space.” According to a report by India TV News, Don Pettit clicked this image while on his fourth ISS mission. The astronaut recently returned from the International Space Station, and this picture was taken approximately 400 kilometres above Earth.
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Image Clicked From The Cupola Window Of The Station
According to a report by India TV News, NASA astronaut Don Pettit is renowned for his artistic space photography. He took this photo from the cupola window of the station using a high-quality Nikon camera to capture every detail clearly. The astronaut is an expert at taking photos with long-exposure techniques while on his missions at the International Space Station.
The Kaaba is known for its cube structure and for being draped in a black kiswah cloth. It stands out in this orbital image due to reflections of sunlight, floodlights, and artificial illumination directed towards the orbit. It looks stunning, right? Many X users flooded the comment section under the post. One user wrote, “That’s a breathtaking sight. Really something else.” Another commented, “From orbit, the Kaaba’s glow hits different.”
You should know that this is not the first time Don Pettit has captured beautiful pictures from space. He recently uploaded the icy peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, and photos showing the colours of our atmosphere from space.
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What do you think of this beautiful orbital image of the Kaaba in Mecca?
Cover Image Courtesy: @astro_Pettit/ X
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