A stunning orbital photograph of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has captivated social media, showcasing Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, as a brilliant central light visible even from 400 kilometers above Earth.
Nasa astronaut Don Pettit, who recently returned from the International Space Station (ISS), shared the image on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: “Orbital views of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The bright spot in the center is the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, visible even from space”.
Pettit, renowned for his artistic space photography during his fourth ISS mission, captured the scene from the station’s cupola window using a high-resolution Nikon camera.
The image reveals Mecca’s urban sprawl nestled in rugged valleys, with the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) dominating the frame.
Kabba shines bright in breathtaking image from space. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure draped in black kiswah cloth, stands out due to constant floodlighting, reflecting sunlight and artificial illumination toward orbit, creating a beacon amid surrounding hills and pilgrimage tents.
