Illuminating the Sun’s Path: Dr. Abrar Al-Jamaan’s Contribution to Solarigraphy

Dr. Abrar Al-Jamaan, assistant professor of Mathematics at AUK has published an article on soligraphy in the Astronomy and Geophysics journal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Solarigraphy is a distinctive photographic technique that employs specially constructed pinhole cameras, often crafted from upcycled materials like tin cans or film canisters. By exposing photosensitive paper to sunlight over extended periods—sometimes months or even years—these cameras create mesmerizing images that trace the Sun's path across the sky. 

A global project has generated nearly 10,000 solarigraphs from over 100 countries, offering a worldwide perspective on the Sun's movement. This article highlights two specific locations: Kuwait and Madrid. In Kuwait, a camera was strategically mounted to incorporate the American University of Kuwait (AUK) buildings as a backdrop, while in Madrid, cameras were positioned to track the Sun's journey from winter to summer. The resulting images showcase different patterns influenced by local weather conditions: clear days produce continuous lines, whereas cloudy days result in broken, fragmented traces. This visual representation provides insight into the relationship between the Sun’s behavior and regional climate variations. 

In essence, the solarigraphy project is more than just a visual spectacle. It advances our comprehension of solar dynamics, enhances renewable energy solutions, and serves as a creative bridge between art and science, encouraging us all to explore and appreciate the wonders of our universe. 

To read Dr. Abrar’s article, click on this link.
 
 
 

Solarigraphs produced of the daily movement of the Sun from the winter solstice to the summer solstice, starting in Kuwait (left) and ending in Madrid (right)