ISTANBUL

A waning gibbous moon appeared directly above the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia at dawn on Friday, creating a rare celestial alignment over Islam’s holiest site.

Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, told the Saudi Press Agency that the phenomenon demonstrates the accuracy of calculations tracking celestial bodies, including the moon. He said it also allows Muslims around the world to determine the Qibla – direction of prayer – with great precision.

For worshippers and visitors at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, the event provided a rare chance to witness a beautiful spectacle. For astronomers, it served as a practical test of precise models, enabling comparisons between mathematical predictions and direct observations, as well as the analysis of angles and elevations for verification.

On Friday evening, the moon is expected to cross in front of the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the “Seven Sisters,” briefly covering some of its stars one after another, Abu Zahra said. The rare spectacle will be visible across Saudi Arabia and much of the Arab world, offering stargazers and astrophotographers another opportunity to capture the night sky.

Such celestial events have historically played a role in Islamic astronomy, where observations of the sun, moon, and stars were closely tied to prayer times and the determination of the Qibla. Today, they continue to fascinate scientists and the public alike, combining spiritual symbolism with scientific value.

Across the Arab world, astronomy groups and enthusiasts have already shared images and commentary on social media, underscoring both the cultural and scientific interest sparked by the rare alignment.