The Kaaba looks like a diamond: The image of the Grand Mosque from space that surprised the world

 The Kaaba looks like a diamond: The image of the Grand Mosque from space that surprised the world

The great natural objects visible on Earth from space include magnificent landscapes, including some of the most magnificent man-made buildings, such as the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China.

In comparison, Islam's holiest building, the Kaaba, located in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, is not very tall, but it is said that it can also be seen from space.

NASA scientist and photographer Donald Pettit, who returned from a 220-day trip to space this year, shared a photo on the social media platform X that has gone viral worldwide.

This photo is of the city of Mecca, in which the Kaaba shines like a diamond.

While sharing the photo, he wrote: The view of the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, from space 'The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam, which is also visible from space.'

While the Kaaba has the honor of being the Qibla of Muslims, it is one of the most visited places in the world.

This image has been shared by hundreds of people, while many users are expressing surprise at the glow emanating from it.

Many users are also asking the artificial intelligence AI about this glow, in response to which the AI ​​says that this glow is due to too many floodlights and that is why it is noticeable in the darkness of the night.

What is seen in the picture?

The picture depicts the urban landscape of Mecca, nestled between rugged valleys and the majestic Masjid al-Haram at its center.

The Kaaba is a cube-shaped building in black kiswah, which is constantly illuminated by floodlights and its surface reflects both sunlight and artificial light towards the orbit. This creates a stunning light show among the surrounding hills and pilgrim tents.

According to a report by India Today, cities like Mecca appear as bright clusters on the space station ISS at night, their glow being created by the light of thousands of LEDs and sodium lamps that scatter in the air and are seen by the station's sensitive cameras.

The Kaaba in the city of Mecca is the Qibla for Muslims around the world, towards which they face to offer their five daily prayers. Millions of people travel there from all corners of the world every year for the Hajj, while millions more flock every day to perform the Umrah.

 

Petit is the world's oldest astronaut

As an astrophotographer, Petit has taken thousands of unique images of stars and their trails, which he regularly shares online.

His previously shared image titled 'Lightning Bugs' went viral on the internet.

On September 11, 2024, Petit launched aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft with two Russian cosmonauts, Alexei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner.

The three astronauts joined the crews of Expedition 71 and later Expedition 72, completing a 220-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

During that time, the crew orbited the Earth 3,520 times and traveled approximately 9,303 million miles.

Petit has conducted various scientific investigations for NASA, including studies on water purification technology, plant growth in low gravity, and fire behavior in space.

The mission concluded on April 20 of this year with the safe landing of Soyuz MS-26 on the Kazakh plateau. The day was also Petit’s 70th birthday, making him the oldest serving NASA astronaut to return from space.

After Petit’s photo went viral, people are saying, “This light is something else.”

A user named PaternalPath wrote: “This is a truly breathtaking sight. It is truly something else.”

Argentine Ivan Cuerga reacted to the photo, saying, “It is as if the universe itself is shining with the light of this place.” The Kaaba shines in a radiant light that transcends time and space, reminding us that there are some things that neither technology nor humans can match.’

Adib Kamil Na wrote, ‘The sight of the Kaaba’s glow from orbit feels different, as if it were an eternal light for the soul from Earth.’

One user wrote, ‘When we are surrounded by shortsightedness, it is better to go into space.’

According to many reports, this photo was taken from a distance of 400 kilometers from Earth. The light visible from the Kaaba is indeed very bright.

A user named Waldroff writes about this view: Beautiful. All religions should be respected, their holy places must be respected in the same way.’

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