A rare phenomenon: Jupiter will be directly above the Kaaba at dawn on Friday
The skies above Mecca will witness a rare and remarkable astronomical phenomenon at dawn on Friday, December 5, 2025: the precise alignment of Jupiter (the giant planet of our solar system) with the Kaaba, according to Engineer Majid Abu Zahra, President of the Jeddah Astronomical Society. This event presents an ideal opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and observers to track planetary movements with exceptional accuracy, as Jupiter will appear as a very bright point of light in the sky.
Details and accuracy of the moment of alignment
Engineer Abu Zahra explained that the exact moment of alignment will occur at 3:09 AM Saudi Arabia time. At this precise moment, Jupiter will reach a height of 89.995 degrees above the horizon of Mecca, placing it very close to the azimuth (which signifies perfect vertical alignment at a 90-degree angle). The slight difference of no more than 15 arcseconds makes this phenomenon astronomically classified as a near-perfect alignment, as the planet passes across the local meridian of Mecca.
Historical background and astronomical significance
The alignment of celestial bodies with the Kaaba holds special significance in Islamic astronomical tradition. For centuries, Muslim astronomers have relied on observing these celestial objects to accurately determine prayer times and the direction of the Qibla. While the alignment of the sun is the most well-known and historically widely used, the alignment of bright planets such as Jupiter and Venus, as well as the moon, adds a scientific dimension, confirming the accuracy of modern astronomical calculations and their consistency with actual observations. This connects the present with the rich history of astronomy in Islamic civilization.
Using the phenomenon to determine the Qibla
Although the alignment of Jupiter with the Sun is rare compared to the Sun, it holds significant practical value. Residents of areas near Mecca and most Arab countries, particularly the Gulf states, can utilize this phenomenon to determine the direction of the Qibla (the direction of prayer). By observing Jupiter at the precise moment of alignment, one is facing the Kaaba directly. Abu Zahra notes that the accuracy of this determination decreases as the observer's geographical distance from Mecca increases, necessitating reliance on precise astronomical calculations rather than direct visual observation, especially in distant continents like Europe and the Americas.
The difference between the alignment of the sun and Jupiter
In a scientific comparison, the head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society explained why the sun's perpendicularity is preferred for determining the Qibla globally, rather than relying on planets. This is because the sun's rays reach Earth almost parallel due to its immense size and distance, resulting in a very small margin of error, not exceeding one arcminute. In contrast, Jupiter's viewing angle is more affected by the observer's position (parallax), making it less accurate as a global reference than the sun, though it remains highly accurate for the regional area around Mecca.
The educational and aesthetic impact of the event
Besides its practical benefit, this phenomenon is a remarkable aesthetic and educational event. It provides ample material for astrophotographers to capture images documenting this unique optical conjunction, and it opens the door for educational institutions to explain complex astronomical concepts such as "noon," "azimuth," and "angular altitude" to students and the general public in a practical way that can be observed with the naked eye, thus enhancing astronomical culture in society.
