Important to Saudis: A rare phenomenon will occur in Mecca at dawn tomorrow, Friday.

Arab Weather - According to the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Mecca will witness the waning gibbous moon being directly over the Kaaba, in a rare phenomenon that combines visual beauty and precision, revealing the sphericity of the Earth.

What is expected to happen?

The moon will be in its waning gibbous phase (between full moon and last quarter), which means that the moon will be in a perfectly perpendicular line with the Holy Kaaba, passing through its meridian. The expected time of perpendicularity will be just before sunrise, i.e., Friday dawn.

What does this phenomenon mean?

First, proving the sphericity of the Earth, because these astronomical phenomena are scientific evidence that reflects the Earth’s rotation and regular movement.

Secondly, a rare visual spectacle will take place in which the moon will appear over the Kaaba in a distinctive and beautiful way, making the scene eye-catching.

Third , accurately determining directions, as the perpendicularity of celestial bodies to the Kaaba can be relied upon to determine the direction of the qiblah anywhere in the world, in the same way that occurs when the sun is perpendicular to the Kaaba twice a year.

According to the Jeddah Astronomical Society, the moon's perpendicularity will occur at dawn on Friday (September 12, 2025), at approximately 3:50 AM Mecca time. The moon's altitude at the moment of perpendicularity will be: 90° (i.e., completely perpendicular to the Kaaba).