· City’s pristine skies were perfect spot to witness once-in-a-lifetime celestial event— the appearance of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS)
· AlUla Manara and Gharameel were officially designated as Dark Sky Parks early this October
AlUla, Saudi Arabia – -: The ancient oasis city of AlUla, recently awarded the prestigious International Dark Sky Park Certification, became the coveted stage for a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event on 15th October — the appearance of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS).
First discovered in early 2023, the comet was expected to pass close to Earth in late 2024, creating a brilliant and easily visible tail. Astronomy enthusiasts, astrophotographers, and stargazers from across the region and as far away as the United States gathered in AlUla to witness this rare phenomenon as it passed over the region.
This community-led moment highlighted the wide-spread recognition of AlUla’s pristine night skies, which are among the top 5% globally for dark sky quality, making it a prime destination for stargazing and astro-tourism.
On October 3, AlUla announced its certification from the US-based organisation, DarkSky International. This recognition designates AlUla’s Manara and Gharameel as Dark Sky Parks — a first for Saudi Arabia and the entire MENA region.
