AlUla Sky Features in NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day
In a remarkable global recognition for the Governorate of AlUla, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected a photo showcasing AlUla‘s clear sky among its “Astronomy Picture of the Day” collection.
On August 25, 2025, NASA published a photo titled “The Meteor and the Star Cluster,” showing a meteor’s green streak cutting across the Pleiades star cluster in a one-hour-long exposure, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
This incredible scene solidifies AlUla’s status as a global destination for stargazing, astrotourism and astrophotography. The image also marks the first time NASA publishes a photo captured from AlUla, in a major milestone underscoring the distinctiveness of AlUla’s dark skies.
The unprecedented achievement is the result of the continuous support of Manarat AlUla, the authority responsible for safeguarding the region’s pristine astronomical environment while promoting its global status in the fields of sky exploration and astrophotography.
The image was captured between Hegra—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and Gharameel Nature Reserve, the only two sites in the Gulf awarded the prestigious Dark Sky designation from DarkSky International.
At night, AlUla’s skies boast an outstanding clarity, placing them among the top 5% of astronomical observation sites globally for their intense darkness and lack of light pollution. This has turned AlUla into a premier destination for stargazing and astrotourism enthusiasts, highlighting the uniqueness of its unparalleled nightscape.
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