Hajar Al Aswad (Black Stone) seen like never before in 49,000 megapixel image
Saudi Arabia has released new and never-before-seen close-up photos of the Black Stone or Hajar Al Aswad in the Kaaba in Mecca.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques captured the details on the Black Stone with a new technique that uses stacked panoramic focus to produce a single image with the greatest accuracy.
The images of Hajar Al Aswad are up to 49,000 megapixels in size and took more than 50 hours to photograph and develop, the officials said.
Muslims believe the Black Stone descended directly from heaven. During the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, devotees usually touch, kiss the Hajar al Aswad when walking past