Luxor governorate is expecting to receive a huge number of tourists in the coming days. People from all over the world will be flocking to the ancient Egyptian city witness one quite impressive phenomenon. The sun will perpendicularly align to the god Amun sanctum in El Karnak temple.

According to El Watan News, the temple will be open for free, for both Egyptians and tourists, to capture this significant archaeoastronomical event, that takes place on the 21^st or 22^nd of December of every year.

According to the Royal Museums Greenwich website, this year’s solstice will fall on 22^nd of December, marking the northern winter solstice. Visitors get to see the sun illuminating the centre of the eastern gate located on the main axis of the temple. This astronomically represents the far southeast of the horizon from which the sun rises.

During the shortest day, the sun aligns perpendicularly to the face of the ancient Egyptian god Amun Ra’ and his wife Mut, who hug each other in a seated position, directing their faces towards the east. The light then spreads throughout the majestic temple by mid-day.

Amun Ra’ was considered the official god of ancient Egypt in the period between the 16th century and the 11th century BC.

Although these temples have been around for thousands of years, the phenomenon was only discovered in 2005.

Also, Luxor didn’t celebrate this day up until 2011, when former governor, Ezzat Saad, decreed the importance of celebrating this event to promote tourism.