A breathtaking photograph of the holy city of Mecca, taken from the International Space Station (ISS), has taken the internet by storm. The image, shared by veteran NASA astronaut Don Pettit, shows the Saudi Arabian city shimmering brilliantly against the darkness of the night, with its spiritual heart clearly visible from an orbital altitude of 400 kilometres.
The Celestial View of Islam's Holiest Site
Don Pettit, a skilled astrophotographer, highlighted the significance of the capture in his post. He pointed out that the bright central spot in the image is none other than the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred site, which remains distinctly visible even from the vantage point of space. The photograph frames Mecca's expansive urban sprawl, nestled within the region's rugged valleys, with the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, anchoring the centre of the composition.
The spectacular glow that defines the cityscape at night is a result of intense light pollution. Millions of powerful LED and sodium vapour lights illuminate the area, and their collective brightness scatters through the atmosphere. This radiant emission is easily detected by the highly sensitive cameras onboard the ISS, allowing for such a clear and striking image from orbit.
Internet Erupts with Wonder and Reverence
The shared image quickly ignited a wave of awe and spiritual reflection across social media platforms. Many users were deeply moved by the sight, describing it as a "divine light." One netizen poetically remarked that from orbit, "the Kaaba's glow hits different—like Earth's own eternal nightlight for the soul," calling it a "divine flex." Numerous others expressed their gratitude to Astronaut Pettit for providing this unique aerial perspective of the revered city.
The Artist Behind the Lens: Don Pettit
The man responsible for this visual marvel is Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut with a background as a chemical engineer. He has built a formidable reputation for transforming the complex technical hurdles of photography in space into breathtaking works of art. His portfolio is a masterful blend of scientific observation and visual poetry, documenting a wide array of extraordinary phenomena.
Pettit's acclaimed captures from space include mesmerizing star trails streaking above Earth's cloud tops, dramatic lightning storms illuminating continental rainforests, the ethereal dance of auroras over polar regions, and surprising glimpses of human activity on the planet below. This latest image of Mecca adds another profound layer to his collection, bridging the gap between celestial observation and deep cultural significance.
