Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Space science has always been a passion for Egyptian astrophotographer Amr Abdel Wahab, prompting him to aim his lens at the starry night sky to capture the most important astronomical events across Egypt.
Recently, the American space agency “NASA” chose one of Abdel Wahab’s photographs from the White Desert in Egypt as a “Daytime Astronomy Image”.
In an interview with CNN in Arabic, Abdel-Wahab described the feeling of being chosen by NASA for his astronomical image of the White Desert in Egypt: “an indescribable feeling of pride and joy.”
He continued, “When a journal that specializes in astrophotography, astronomy and space science publishes your image, it’s a huge achievement, but for NASA to select your image, it’s a crowning achievement.
“I feel like I’ve won the Nobel Prize for astrophotography,” he added.
Abdel-Wahhab recounted the amazing experience he had when he took his astronomical picture in a place of such beauty and magic, the White Desert, located within the Western Desert, an area of more than 3. A thousand square kilometers.
The White Desert is famous for its unique landscapes, which include many geological formations, crystalline quartz mountains and wildlife, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure seekers, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Abdel-Wahab, an astrophysicist and president of the Mustafa Mahmoud Astronomical Society, explained that the secret of his interest in astrophotography began when he started in a village between the Nile River and the Eastern Desert. Limited hours.
“Throughout the night, the universe is like my possession, untouched by light pollution, I contemplate the clear sky and its twinkling stars for hours,” he said.
At times, Abd al-Wahhab’s mother would accompany him during celestial meditation sessions in a room on the roof of his house in Upper Egypt, where he would have many unanswered questions. We saw each other in heaven.”
The Egyptian photographer explores cosmic wonders in the sky and seeks to document them with his lens, and to observe moments that rarely repeat themselves in a lifetime: “I want to show people the beauty of the universe and inspire their curiosity. Admiration for what surrounds us.”
Abdel-Wahhab pointed out the diversity of sites where astronomical events have been documented in Egypt, some of which are characterized by conditions suitable for astrophotography, such as deserts, mountains and lakes.
Apart from the White Desert, there are other sites such as Wadi al-Hitan, Sinai Mountains, Lake Qarun, Western Desert and the Great Sands Sea region.
Within 10 years, Abdel-Wahhab, who established the Al-Wahhad and Fayoum observatories, was able to document many astronomical phenomena in Egypt, such as lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, meteor showers, and lunar conjunctions. Documentation of comets and galaxies, but the most important of these events are represented by two rare, once-in-a-lifetime events, one of which is the comet “Neuves,” which he documented from the Giza region. Pyramids.
An Egyptian photographer was able to document many galaxies and nebulae from the Egyptian sky for the first time.
Regarding the feedback he receives about his astronomical images, Abdel Wahab says they are “always positive and encouraging”.
Abdel-Wahab receives many questions from his followers on social media platforms about the method of photography, the equipment used and the appropriate places to hone their skills in the field of astrophysics. Or young people tell me about their desire to engage in these genres.” From Astronomy Photography.
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