Petra records an exceptional celestial scene of the `lunar steadying` phenomenon.

The sky over the city of Petra will witness a rare astronomical event on the night of Friday/Saturday, December 5-6, 2025, as the moon appears in its semi-full phase above the Siq, in a view that can be seen from the front of the Treasury, forming a “wonderful natural tableau that inspires amazement,” according to the head of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Ammar Al-Sakaji.

Lunar Steady: A rare astronomical phenomenon in Jordan

This scene coincides with Lunar Standstill, a phenomenon in which the moon appears in the same position in the sky when observed from the same location, providing an opportunity to see a unique astronomical view that combines the beauty of the sky with the splendor of Nabataean architecture in Petra.

What is lunar stability?

Lunar plateau means the Moon reaches its greatest northern or southern declination from the celestial equator. At these points, the Moon's rising and setting points are at their northernmost and southernmost points on the horizon, and this moment is known as lunar plateau.

Sunrise, sunset, and full moon timings

• Moonrise: Friday at 6:00 PM at an azimuth of 57° Northeast.
• Moonset: Saturday at 7:52 AM at an azimuth angle of 300°.
• Supermoon full moon: Friday at 2:12 AM.
• The appearance of a near-full moon over the Siq: Friday at 10:00 PM during the period of great lunar stability.

Lunar cycle and declination values

Lunar stability occurs within an 18.6-year cycle, with the maximum inclination of the Moon ranging between 18.134° and 28.725° north or south, known as minor and major lunar stability. The highest inclination of the Moon in this cycle will occur at 12:51 AM on Friday/Saturday, December 5–6, reaching 28.387°.

The importance of the phenomenon for astronomy and photography enthusiasts

Al-Sakaji described the great lunar steadying as one of the most prominent astronomical phenomena that highlights the precision of celestial movements, resulting from the changing inclination of the moon's orbit due to the gravitational pull between the Earth and the sun. He emphasized that this phenomenon presents a rare opportunity to observe the moonrise from the northernmost point on the horizon in Petra, making it a suitable time for amateur astronomers, photographers, and astronomical documentation enthusiasts.