Sun's Direct Light To Align Over Holy Kaaba Tomorrow In Unique Astronomical Event

Tomorrow, Makkah will witness the second and final direct sun alignment over the Holy Kaaba for 2025. This event, known as the Solar Zenith, highlights the precision of cosmic movements. It occurs twice annually, showcasing both scientific accuracy and natural beauty.

At 12:27 PM Makkah time (9:27 AM GMT), the sun will be directly above Makkah's meridian at an elevation angle of about 89.5 degrees. During this time, the Kaaba's shadow will vanish, and nearby vertical objects will cast almost no shadows. This aligns with the Dhuhr call to prayer.

The Solar Zenith is significant for its ability to determine the Qibla direction accurately from anywhere globally without modern tools. Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, explained that this alignment occurs as the sun moves southward from the Tropic of Cancer.

This celestial event happens twice yearly for the Holy Kaaba—in late May and mid-July—when the sun passes directly over Makkah's latitude of 21.4° North. The Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees causes this apparent solar movement throughout the year.

This alignment offers a unique chance to study atmospheric refraction and its effects on the sun's apparent position as it nears zenith. Such studies can enhance understanding of how atmospheric conditions influence celestial observations.

Eng. Majed Abu Zahra noted that during this phenomenon, "the shadow of the Kaaba will disappear," creating a striking visual spectacle that merges scientific precision with natural beauty as sunlight falls vertically on a specific Earth point.

This astronomical event not only exemplifies cosmic precision but also provides insights into atmospheric phenomena and their impact on solar observations.

With inputs from SPA