Holy Kaaba aligns with sun in rare astronomical event over Makkah

MAKKAH — The skies above Makkah witnessed on Tuesday the sun aligning directly over the Holy Kaaba at 12:18 PM Makkah time, an astronomical phenomenon used to determine the Qibla direction.Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Eng. Majed Abu Zahra stated that the sun reached its closest point to full alignment above the Holy Kaaba at an elevation of 89.94 degrees, just 0.06 degrees short of full perpendicularity. This provided a direct opportunity to verify the accuracy of the Qibla direction using the sun’s position and shadows cast by vertical objects, which nearly disappear at the moment of alignment. Abu Zahra noted that the phenomenon occurs twice annually due to the sun’s apparent movement between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and holds scientific and educational significance for its connection to astronomical calculations and its historical use in correcting mosque orientations.