The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, concludes on Wednesday. Dramatic aerial photos show more than 2 million Muslims taking part in the pilgrimage from the air. Visit INSIDER's ...

This photo over Saudi Arabia was captured by Scott Kelly on Wednesday, a day before more than 700 died and 800 were injured during a stampede of Hajj pilgrims near the holy city of Mecca.

Aerial photographs show the holy city of Mecca ahead of Hajj, a five-day spiritual journey that gives Muslims the opportunity to cleanse the faithful of sin, bringing them closer to God.

The aerial photographs, released by Colorado-based space technology firm Maxar, show normally bustling spots from Mecca to Beijing thinned of people. File Photo: A satellite view shows an empty ...