05/12/2025
A photo taken on 29 July 2023 from the ISS shows Mecca from orbit, with Al Masjid al‑Haram visible — and the Kaaba appears as a small cube in the center.
A more recent image, shared in December 2025 by astronaut Don Pettit, shows Mecca at night — the Kaaba appears as a bright central light, thanks to flood-lighting and city illumination, detectable from ~400 km altitude.
📸 Why Kaaba is visible from space
The mosque around the Kaaba is illuminated day and night, so its lighting is strong enough to show up in high-resolution orbital photography.
From the ISS vantage point (orbit ≈400 km), astronauts with sensitive cameras are able to capture details such as major buildings and lighting, even in urban areas nestled within hilly terrain.
