Rare Phenomenon: The Moon Will Be Directly Above the Kaaba on Saturday Evening in Mecca
The sky of Mecca is preparing for an amazing astronomical scene on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as the residents of the city and scholars will witness the first alignment of the moon with the Holy Kaaba this year.
At this exceptional moment, the moon will appear almost vertically directly above the Grand Mosque when it reaches its highest point in the sky.
According to engineer Majid Al-Zahra, head of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, the height of the moon at the moment of alignment will be about 89.98 degrees, just one arc minute away from complete alignment (90 degrees), meaning the moon will be directly overhead in the sky of Mecca, confirming the accuracy of the astronomical calculations for this phenomenon.
Al-Zahra pointed out that the moon's right ascension will reach 8 hours, 38 minutes, and 26 seconds, while the moon's inclination will be 21.41 degrees north, which nearly matches the latitude of Mecca, approximately 21.4 degrees north, which is the essential geometric condition for the alignment to occur.
The moon is expected to cross the local meridian of Mecca at 10:24:40 PM, which is the moment it reaches its highest elevation directly above the Grand Mosque.
The moon will also be about 374,187 kilometers away from Earth, with an illumination percentage of about 91%, appearing with an apparent diameter of approximately 0.53 degrees, which is roughly equivalent to the apparent diameter of the sun when viewed with the naked eye, and it will be in the illuminated gibbous phase, enhancing its visibility for observation, although these factors are unrelated to the occurrence of the alignment.
This phenomenon coincides with the conjunction of the moon with the star cluster "the Beehive" in the constellation Cancer, where they can be seen together using binoculars or with the naked eye in dark locations, while binoculars are preferred in cities to clarify details.
It is noted that this astronomical phenomenon is traditionally used to determine the direction of the Qibla, as anyone around the world can direct their gaze towards the moon at the moment of alignment to accurately know the direction of Mecca with direct visual precision.
The calculations rely on precise astronomical equations that take into account geographic location, time, and orbital deviations, making the timing and displayed angles accurate and reliable.
