The second and final perpendicularity of the year 2024.. The moon will be perpendicular to the Kaaba tomorrow, Friday

Arab Weather - The sky of Mecca will witness a unique astronomical event tomorrow, Friday, when the moon will be perpendicular to the Kaaba, which is the second and final perpendicularity this year.

Details of the phenomenon of perpendicularity

The head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, explained that the moon will reach the moment of perpendicularity at 07:07 AM Mecca time. During this perpendicularity, the moon will be at an altitude of 89.5 degrees above the Mecca horizon, 41.8% illuminated, and will be at a distance of 395,321 kilometers from the Earth. This perpendicularity coincides with sunrise, which will be at an altitude of 9 degrees.

Engineer Abu Zahra explained that this astronomical phenomenon, known as “transcendence,” is considered one of the scientific methods used to confirm the accuracy of calculations of the movement of celestial bodies, including the moon. This phenomenon helps in determining the location of the moon with great accuracy, and can be used to easily determine the direction of the qibla from several locations around the world.

Tomorrow morning, Friday..

The sky of #Makkah will witness the moon’s perpendicularity (transcendence) over the Holy Kaaba at 07:07 in the morning, and it will be at an altitude of 89.5 degrees. This is the second and last perpendicularity in the year 2024.

(Jeddah Astronomy)

- pic.twitter.com/M4wwjeC0vp

— Saudi News (@SaudiNews50) October 24, 2024

The effect of perpendicularity on determining the direction of the Qiblah

Abu Zahra pointed out that most of the perpendicularities of the moon or other celestial bodies rarely have a tilt that is exactly the same as the width of the Kaaba, as there may be a slight difference of up to a quarter or half a degree. Therefore, this phenomenon cannot be relied upon to determine the Qiblah in cities close to Mecca, such as Taif and Jeddah. As for distant areas, this phenomenon can be used, as the direction of the moon at the moment of perpendicularity indicates Mecca with an accuracy similar to that of smartphone applications.

Abu Zahra explained that specialists rely on astronomical tools such as telescopes and surveying devices to accurately determine the direction of the Qiblah during the perpendicularity. After the perpendicularity ends, the moon will remain visible in the sky throughout the night, until it sets in the northwestern horizon with sunrise on Wednesday.

Scientific explanation of the moon's perpendicularity

The statement indicated that the moon's tilt during its monthly rotation around the Earth changes by 5 degrees within the zodiac, which makes the phenomenon of the moon's perpendicularity to the Kaaba occur at specific times. Although it rarely occurs, it can be determined with an accuracy of up to 0.5 degrees. It is worth noting that the moon completes 12 orbits around the Earth every year, and the perpendicularity occurs during some of these orbits.

The phenomenon of the moon being perpendicular to the Kaaba is a rare and interesting astronomical opportunity, as it provides great accuracy in determining the direction of the Qiblah using advanced astronomical calculations and sophisticated scientific tools.

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