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AlUla Skies Festival 2025 Promises Celebration of Celestial Heritage, Adventure

Visitors can take to the skies with daily hot-air balloon flights. (SPA)
Visitors can take to the skies with daily hot-air balloon flights. (SPA)
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AlUla Skies Festival 2025 Promises Celebration of Celestial Heritage, Adventure

Visitors can take to the skies with daily hot-air balloon flights. (SPA)
Visitors can take to the skies with daily hot-air balloon flights. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's AlUla is set to welcome the return of the AlUla Skies Festival, taking place from April 18 to 27, as part of the AlUla Moments calendar. The festival celebrates the profound connection between humanity and the skies, honoring the legacy of ancient travelers who once relied on the stars to navigate the vast deserts.

AlUla, the oasis city renowned for its rich heritage and breathtaking landscapes, continues to lead the way in astrotourism, offering visitors a chance to marvel at its pristine dark skies and infinite constellations.

At the heart of the festival is AlUla Manara, a visionary global observatory dedicated to advancing research and education in astronomy and space science. Supported by elite local and international partners in the astronomy and space technology industry, AlUla Manara is set to be a state-of-the-art facility that invites visitors to explore the wonders of the universe.

Through interactive exhibits, high-tech telescopes, and immersive workshops, AlUla Manara bridges the gap between ancient celestial wisdom and modern scientific discovery. As a hub for astrotourism, it offers unique stargazing experiences, drawing visitors from around the world to connect with the cosmos in an unforgettable way.

AlUla continues to lead the way in astrotourism, offering visitors a chance to marvel at its pristine dark skies and infinite constellations. (SPA)

The AlUla Skies Festival 2025 promises an extraordinary blend of adventure, culture, and exploration. Visitors can take to the skies with daily hot-air balloon flights, where a large number of balloons will create a stunning aerial spectacle each morning. For those seeking a more intimate experience, tethered balloon rides at Old Town and Elephant Rock will offer panoramic views of AlUla's iconic landscapes, providing a fresh perspective on these beloved sites.

The festival will also feature the mesmerizing Balloon Glow Shows, where 12 illuminated balloons, aerial performers, and synchronized music will transform Elephant Rock into a magical nighttime wonderland.

The festival's Passport to the Skies activities, introduced by AlUla Manara, will take visitors on an immersive journey through the cosmos.

At the Celestial Sky Port in Jabal Ikmah, guests can engage with interactive exhibits, high-tech telescopes, and astronomy workshops, while the Pop-Up Planetarium in Old Town will bring constellations and space exploration to life through captivating 360-degree projections.

The festival offers a variety of celestial experiences, including Cinema Under the Stars at Maraya—the world's largest mirrored building and multipurpose entertainment venue—and Moonlight Yoga Sessions for wellness seekers. (SPA)

Music enthusiasts are in for a treat on April 25, as regional singers take the stage at the Thanaya AlUla Outdoor Venue for an unforgettable performance under the stars. The festival also offers a variety of celestial experiences, including Cinema Under the Stars at Maraya—the world's largest mirrored building and multipurpose entertainment venue—and Moonlight Yoga Sessions for wellness seekers. Expert-led stargazing experiences will further deepen the connection between visitors and the cosmos.

For those seeking a truly immersive experience, accommodations such as AlMaddham Wilderness Lodge, Our Habitas AlUla, and The Chedi Hegra offer private stargazing sessions for their guests, allowing them to unwind under the infinite night sky.

The AlUla Skies Festival 2025 is a celebration of AlUla's rich heritage, its commitment to preserving the skies, and its position as a global destination for adventure and discovery.

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Varieties

Trump Urges 2028 Astronaut Moon Landing in Sweeping Space Policy Order

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump poses on the red carpet for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., US, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump poses on the red carpet for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., US, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
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Trump Urges 2028 Astronaut Moon Landing in Sweeping Space Policy Order

FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump poses on the red carpet for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., US, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: US President Donald Trump poses on the red carpet for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., US, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo

President Donald Trump enshrined the US goal to put humans back on the moon by 2028 and defend space from weapon threats in a sweeping executive order issued on Thursday, the first major space policy move of his administration's second term.

The order, issued hours after billionaire private astronaut and former SpaceX customer Jared Isaacman was sworn in as NASA's 15th administrator, also reorganized national space policy coordination under Trump's chief science adviser, Michael Kratsios, Reuters reported.

Titled "ENSURING AMERICAN SPACE SUPERIORITY," the order calls on the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies to create a space security strategy, urges efficiency among private contractors and seeks demonstrations of missile-defense technologies under Trump's Golden Dome program.

It appeared to ‌cancel the White ‌House's top space policy-coordinating body, the National Space Council, a ‌panel ⁠of cabinet members that ‌the president revived during his first term and has considered axing this year.

But an adminitration official said it would not be cancelled and suggested it would live on under the White House's Office of Technology Policy with a different structure in which the president, rather than the vice president, would be chairman.

The goal to land humans on the moon by the end of Trump's second term in 2028 bears resemblance to the president's 2019 directive in his first term to make a lunar return by 2024, putting the ⁠moon at the center of US space exploration policy with a timeline many in the industry regarded as unrealistic. Development and testing ‌delays with NASA’s Space Launch System and SpaceX’s Starship gradually pushed ‍that landing target date back.

NASA's goal had been ‍2028 under former president Barack Obama.

A 2028 astronaut moon landing would be ‍the first of many planned under NASA's Artemis effort to build a long-term presence on the lunar surface. The US is in competition with China, which is targeting 2030 for its first crewed moon landing. The order on Thursday called for "establishment of initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030," reinforcing NASA's existing goal to develop long-term bases with nuclear power sources.

At the start of his second term, Trump had repeatedly talked about sending missions to Mars as Elon Musk, a major donor ⁠who has made sending humans to the Red Planet a priority for his company SpaceX, served a stint as a close adviser and powerful government efficiency czar. But lawmakers in Congress this year have slowly put the moon back in focus, pressuring then-NASA nominee Isaacman to stick with the agency's moon program on which billions of dollars have been spent.

The White House, in a government efficiency push led by Musk, slashed NASA's workforce by 20% and has sought to cut the agency's 2026 budget by roughly 25% from its usual $25 billion, imperiling dozens of space-science programs that scientists and some officials regard as priorities.

Isaacman, who plans to give his first agency-wide address to NASA employees on Friday, has said he believes the space agency should try to target both the moon and Mars simultaneously while prioritizing a lunar return in ‌order to beat China.

The 2028 moon-landing target depends heavily on the development progress of SpaceX's giant Starship lander, which has been criticized by NASA's former acting administrator for moving too slowly.

Varieties

Rare Diamond Changes Lives of Two Indian Friends

Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond in Panna (Amit Rathaur)
Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond in Panna (Amit Rathaur)
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Rare Diamond Changes Lives of Two Indian Friends

Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond in Panna (Amit Rathaur)
Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond in Panna (Amit Rathaur)

On a recent winter morning in Panna, a diamond mining region in central India, two childhood friends made a discovery that they think could change their lives forever.

Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed stumbled upon a large, glistening rock on a plot of land they had leased just weeks earlier, according to BBC India.

When they took the stone to the city's official diamond evaluator, they learnt they had found a 15.34-carat gem-quality diamond - one of the finest varieties of natural diamonds that exist.

“The estimated market price of the stone is around five to six million rupees [$55,000 - $66,000] and it will be auctioned soon,” Anupam Singh, the diamond evaluator, told BBC Hindi.

The government holds quarterly auctions, drawing buyers from across India and abroad to bid for the diamonds.

“Estimated prices depend on the dollar rate and benchmarks set by the Rapaport report,” Singh said. Rapaport is widely regarded as a leading authority on independent diamond and jewelry market analysis.

Khatik and Mohammed say they are over the moon. “We can now get our sisters married,” they said.

Khatik, 24, who runs a meat shop and Mohammed, 23 who sells fruits, come from poor backgrounds and are the youngest sons in their families.

For generations, their families have been trying their luck at finding diamonds, which is a common quest among the district's residents.

Panna, which is in Madhya Pradesh state, is among India's least developed districts - its residents face poverty, water scarcity and unemployment.

While most mines are run by the federal government, state authorities lease small plots to locals each year at nominal rates. With few job opportunities in the city, residents hope for a prized find to improve their fortunes - but most come up empty-handed.

Mohammed said his father and grandfather had dug through these plots for decades but discovered nothing more that “dust and slivers of quartz.”

His father Nafees said that the “gods have finally rewarded their hard work and patience.”

They leased a plot in search of diamonds partly out of desperation, as their meagre incomes could not keep pace with rising household costs - let alone pay for a wedding, Mohammed told the BBC.

Varieties

SpaceX Loses Contact with Starlink Satellite after Mishap

FILE PHOTO: SpaceX logo and Elon Musk silhouette are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: SpaceX logo and Elon Musk silhouette are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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SpaceX Loses Contact with Starlink Satellite after Mishap

FILE PHOTO: SpaceX logo and Elon Musk silhouette are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: SpaceX logo and Elon Musk silhouette are seen in this illustration taken, December 19, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

SpaceX's Starlink said one of its satellites experienced an anomaly in space on Wednesday that created a "small number" of debris and cut off communications with the spacecraft at 418 km (259.73 miles) in altitude, a rare kinetic accident in orbit for the satellite internet giant.

"The satellite is largely intact, tumbling, and will reenter the Earth's atmosphere and fully demise within weeks," Starlink said in a post on X.

The company said it was working with the US Space Force and NASA to monitor the debris pieces, the number of which SpaceX did not say.

Space Force's space-tracking unit did not immediately return a Reuters request for comment on the number of trackable debris, which could pose risks for other active satellites in orbit.

With the Starlink satellite still somewhat intact, the event seemed smaller in scale than other orbital mishaps such as the breakup of an Intelsat satellite that created more than 700 pieces, or the breakup of a Chinese rocket body last year.