DAMMAM, 29 August 2003 — Thousands of people in the Eastern Province converged on the Corniche of the twin cities to watch the red and orange glow of the Red Planet when it came close to Earth Wednesday evening.

“It’s a wonderful sight,” said Abdul Rehman, a STC employee at the Dammam Corniche. “It’s just like a smaller version of the moon emitting strange light.”

The skies over the region were absolutely clear and the rare spectacle was easily visible with the naked eye.

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran set up an observatory for people to watch the sight through its powerful telescope. Dr. Ali Al-Shukri, head of the physics department, which set up the observatory, said a great many people gathered at the university to watch. He said some spots were visible on the planet’s surface and it emitted red, orange and brown light.

As of Wednesday, Mars was a galactically trifling 55.76 million km away from Earth. This rare phenomenon last occurred 60,000 years ago.

The Alkhobar Corniche resembled the site of a festival. Hundreds of families gathered there, with street vendors capitalizing on the large gathering and doing brisk business.

Arshad Ali, a Pakistani engineer, had been at the seaside since 6.30 p.m. and planned to stay until midnight. “I don’t want to miss it. It is a rare sight and I want to see all the stages,” he said.

Fares Al-Ghamdi, a young Saudi, canceled a party he was scheduled to attend and came down to the Corniche. “You don’t get such opportunity in several millennia. Imagine, this hasn’t happened for 60,000 years. No one knows when will it happen again,” he said.

People at the Corniche were in complete awe of the Red Planet when it peaked around 10.10 pm. “It is just like a spell,” said Daniel, an Indian expatriate working for a transport company here.

Apart from the Corniche, many people went to farms in Ahsa, Qatif, Safwa and Anak with their families to gaze at the sky. “We planned to watch the planet and also make it a picnic for the family to start the weekend,” said Mohsen, who along with his family went to his farm near Salasil.