Moon aligning directly above Kaaba tonight
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The full moon will align directly above the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, in Saudi Arabia’s Mecca on Saturday (today), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The rare celestial phenomenon will take place at 10:43 pm local time (Pakistani 12.43 am) when the people of Mecca will be able to see with naked eyes the full moon appearing vertically above the Grand Mosque.
Majid Abu Zahira, the head of the Saudi Astronomer Society, said that the moon will be directly above the Kaaba Sharif on Saturday night for the first time in the year 2023, and this fascinating sight can be seen at 10:43 pm when the moon is at 89.5 degrees and the moon’s disc will be fully illuminated at 93 percent.
Abu Zahira said that people from other countries, including Arab countries, will be able to determine the direction of the Qibla if the moon is above the Kaaba Sharif.
The Kaaba is the direction in which Muslims across the world pray. Because of the alignment ascertaining this direction is easy for sky-watching enthusiasts.
“The moon will guide them towards Makkah with an accuracy that matches that of smartphone applications,” Abu Zahira states.
The cube-like structure, which is draped in black cloth, is believed by Muslims to have been built by Abraham and his son Ismaeel.