Latest news with #JeddahAstronomySociety
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Sun Aligns Directly Over Kaaba In Rare Celestial Event, Offering Muslims Precise Qibla Direction
In a rare and striking celestial event, the sun aligned directly over the Holy Kaaba in Mecca on Tuesday, allowing Muslims around the world to determine the Qibla — the direction of prayer — with remarkable accuracy. At the moment of alignment, the sun stood precisely above the Kaaba, causing shadows to vanish completely in its immediate vicinity. 'The sky over Mecca witnessed the sun directly aligning with the Kaaba, causing shadows to disappear completely. The Qibla can be precisely determined from any location where the sun can be seen,' the Jeddah Astronomy Society said in a statement. The phenomenon occurs as the sun travels southward from the Tropic of Cancer and crosses Mecca's latitude at approximately 21.4 degrees North. Known as a Solar Zenith, the event typically occurs twice a year, around late May and mid-July, due to the Earth's axial tilt of 23.5 degrees. Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, noted that the zenith coincides with the Dhuhr prayer in Mecca, imbuing the event with both scientific and spiritual significance. For a moment, sunlight descends vertically upon the Kaaba, creating a powerful and symbolic alignment. Beyond its visual impact, the event provides a traditional means for Muslims worldwide to verify the Qibla without the use of modern tools. At the precise time of the solar zenith, those able to see the sun can simply face it to align their prayers toward Mecca with exceptional precision. Astronomers also view the alignment as a valuable opportunity to observe atmospheric refraction near the zenith point, yielding insights into how light behaves at steep angles. Such observations help refine our understanding of solar positioning and atmospheric conditions.
Leaders
06-07-2025
- Science
- Leaders
Earth to Experience Shortest Days in July, August 2025, Says Jeddah Astronomy Society
According to the Jeddah Astronomy Society, Earth is expected to experience some of its shortest days on record in July and August 2025, due to a slight increase in the planet's rotation speed. While this change is imperceptible in everyday life, it holds importance for technologies such as satellite navigation (GPS), communications systems, and astronomical observations. Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, President of the Society, highlighted predictions from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which indicate that three of the shortest days in modern history will occur on July 9 (1.30 milliseconds shorter), July 22 (1.38 milliseconds shorter), and August 5 (1.51 milliseconds shorter) in 2025. Earth typically completes one full rotation every 24 hours, or 86,400 seconds. Since 2020, atomic clocks—highly accurate timekeeping devices—have detected subtle reductions in day length. The shortest day recorded so far was June 29, 2022, which was 1.59 milliseconds shorter than the average. Abu Zahra explained that these measurements are made by comparing data from atomic clocks with various time standards, enabling scientists to monitor tiny fluctuations in Earth's rotational speed. Potential causes for the acceleration include shifts in Earth's liquid core, redistribution of mass due to melting polar ice, rising sea levels, major earthquakes, and gravitational interactions with the Moon. Related Topics : Jeddah Astronomy: Saturn's Opposition to Sun Today The last giant full moon of 2022 to appear in the sky today Saudi Arabia & Arab world witness a rare astronomical phenomenon Hajj 2025: Registration for Pilgrims Housing in Madinah Commences on Sunday Short link : Post Views: 24
Gulf Insider
21-06-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Summer Begins With Longest Day And Shortest Night Across Saudi Arabia
At precisely 5:42 a.m. local time on Saturday, June 21, 2025, the sun stood directly above the Tropic of Cancer, signaling the arrival of the summer solstice across Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomers say this marks the beginning of summer in astronomical terms, a season that will last 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes this year. On this day, the sun rises from its northernmost point on the horizon and sets at its furthest northwestern point. It also traces its highest arc across the sky, particularly noticeable in regions north of the equator, and casts the shortest noontime shadows of the year. Majid Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, said that the solstice occurs when the Earth's axial tilt reaches its maximum angle of 23.5 degrees toward the sun. 'This causes the sun to appear at its most northerly point in the sky,' he said, 'resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.' But while the solstice consistently occurs around June 21, the date can vary slightly, falling between June 20 and 22, due to the mismatch between the Gregorian calendar year (365 days) and the solar year (365.2422 days), as well as gravitational influences from the Moon and planets, and minor variations in Earth's rotation. These shifts are periodically corrected by the addition of leap days. Abu Zahra also highlighted the distinction between astronomical and meteorological summer. 'While meteorologists define summer as the period from June 1 to August 31, astronomers define it from the summer solstice onward,' he said. Interestingly, the solstice does not coincide with the hottest day of the year. Due to a phenomenon known as 'seasonal lag,' the land, oceans, and atmosphere take time to absorb and re-radiate solar energy, meaning peak temperatures typically occur in July or August. The summer solstice also holds historical significance. Abu Zahra noted that the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes famously used observations from the solstice to estimate the Earth's circumference with remarkable accuracy, relying solely on basic geometry and the difference in shadow lengths between two cities. Following Saturday's solstice, the sun will begin its apparent journey southward, gradually shortening daylight hours until the autumnal equinox on September 22.
