Khaberni - The American Space Agency (NASA) selected an astronomical picture taken by Haitham Hamdi, a member of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, to be among the most beautiful daily astronomical pictures of the comet Pan-STARRS C/2025 R3 (Panstarrs).
The comet was observed from Charlestown, Rhode Island, USA, on the morning of last Sunday, April 12, at 04:27 AM (three minutes before dawn), where the photographic session lasted for 29 minutes. The comet was about 7 degrees above the horizon at the start of the observation, with a brightness of 0.9, under relatively good observing conditions despite a light pollution level (Bortle 4.5).
The president of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Al-Sakaji, said that the selection of the image by NASA is an international recognition of the quality of astronomical observation, technical precision in photography and processing, and reflects the advanced level the members of the society have reached in the field of astronomical observation and photography.
Al-Sakaji explained that the Meteorology and Astronomical Photography Committee of the Jordanian Astronomical Society also participated in observing the same comet from inside Jordan, during an observation campaign conducted on the morning of last Tuesday, April 14, in the Eastern Desert, specifically in the Qasr Amra area.
This campaign resulted in capturing three images of the comet using three different telescopes, with the participation of Ammar Al-Sakaji, Rami Saadah, Imam Hamdi, Uday Al-Halabi, and Ibrahim Al-Dajah.
Al-Sakaji pointed out that this achievement underscores the importance of teamwork and the integration between field observation and technical expertise, as well as enhancing Jordan's presence on the international astronomical scene, and supporting efforts to spread scientific and astronomical culture in the region.
