Egypt — In a unique phenomenon, where the Sun is perpendicular to the statue of Ramses II in the temple of Abu Simbel in southern Egypt; the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) hosted the event of “Sun Orthogonal on Abu Simbel Temple".

These celebrations started on 19 October at the African Cultural Center in Aswan, Egypt and occur twice during the year: on February 22 and October 22.

The October 2021 event included an educational lecture on the Sun’s orthogonality on the Abu Simbel temple, scientifically and practically, by Dr Magda Moheb; followed by an introductory lecture on the Sun and space weather delivered by Dr Safinaz Ahmed from the Sun Research Laboratory at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG). The event ended with the participants watching the Moon and stars using telescopes with the guidance of Dr Ahmed AboElwafa, Dr Sameh Hamzawy, Dr Mohamed Sedek and Mr Abd ElFattah.

The phenomenon occurs in October and February of each year. The scientists renew their interest in the astounding progress that the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt reached in the field of astronomy, thanks to the Sun orthogonality phenomenon, in which the Sun illuminates the face of Ramses II statue in Abu Simbel. The phenomenon was discovered in 1874 with sunrise, and within twenty minutes the Sun-rays penetrated the entrance to the temple until they reached a small room that contained a number of statues.