The arm of the Milky Way galaxy was observed shining in the sky of the 'Umm al-Asafir' area, located 60 kilometers south of Rafha governorate, in a striking astronomical scene on Saturday evening. Clear skies and low light pollution levels provided ideal conditions for astronomical observation and night photography.

Burgess al-Fulayh, a member of the Afaq Society for Astronomical Sciences, explained that the scene showed the dense extension of the galactic arm in the heart of the sky, with thousands of stars and stellar clouds emerging, reflecting the purity of the atmosphere and the site's freedom from light pollution sources, which contributed to clearly showing the arm's details and highlighting the beauty of the night sky.

Best times for astronomical observation

Al-Fulayh pointed out that the periods at the beginning and end of each lunar month during July, August, September, and October are among the best times to observe the galactic arm, as the absence or low intensity of moonlight increases the contrast and clarity of the galaxy's details, providing a suitable environment for astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotography.

Deserts an ideal destination for astronomy enthusiasts

He added that desert areas with low light pollution are among the most suitable locations for following astronomical phenomena, due to their open horizons and clear skies that allow viewing celestial objects with the naked eye or using astronomical equipment. He affirmed that this supports the growing interest in astronomy tourism and natural photography in the Kingdom.