المملكة: Jeddah Astronomy: Jupiter is almost completely perpendicular to the Holy Kaaba at dawn on Friday

The sky of Mecca, at dawn on Friday, December 5, 2025, is witnessing a rare astronomical phenomenon, represented by the planet Jupiter perpendicular to the Holy Kaaba with high accuracy, according to what the President of Jeddah Astronomical Society Engineer Majid Abu Zahra. Jupiter appears to observers as a bright point in the sky, but precisely determining the moment of perpendicularity requires simulation programs and advanced astronomical tools.

Almost perfect perpendicularity

According to Abu Zahira, perpendicularity will occur at 03:09 AM Saudi time, when Jupiter’s height reaches 89.995 degrees above the horizon of Mecca, a difference of no more than 15 arcseconds from Perpendicularity of full 90 degrees. This close proximity makes the phenomenon classified astronomically as an almost perfect perpendicular, as the planet passes over the local meridian and approaches the azimuth point directly overhead.

Abu Zahira points out that the concept of a planet perpendicular to the Kaaba means that the observer in Mecca sees it very close to the highest point in the sky, a moment that requires precise calculations that take into account Jupiter’s apparent movement, corrections to time and geographical location.

Determining the direction of the Qibla with high accuracy

Despite Because of its rarity, the phenomenon has practical utility; It can be used to determine the direction of the Qibla with high accuracy. Knowing the observer’s location and the moment of perpendicularity allows the use of azimuth The apparent height of the planet as a celestial reference points directly towards the Holy Kaaba at that moment, without major mathematical complications.

The perpendicularity of the sun is the most common means of determining the correct direction of the Qibla due to its ease of observing it twice a year during the day through the absence of shadows. As for the Moon’s perpendicularity, it remains rarer and depends on its phase and height in the sky, while Jupiter’s perpendicularity is less common, but it provides an accurate reference at the moment of its occurrence.

Abu Zahira adds that the scope of agreement between Jupiter’s direction and the direction of the Qibla includes the majority of Arab countries, especially the Arabian Gulf countries, where the angular difference is almost non-existent. But the farther away the geographical location is from Mecca, the deviation increases, and it becomes necessary to use astronomical calculations to determine the correct azimuth.
As for Europe, the Americas, and East Asia, the direction of Jupiter is not directly in line with the Qiblah, and it is necessary to completely rely on astronomical calculations.

Why is the sun and not Jupiter relied upon?

Abu Zahira explains this by saying that the sun’s rays, because they come from a huge and very distant body, reach almost parallel to the surface of the Earth, which makes its direction deviate at an instant. The perpendicularity is very small, barely exceeding one arc minute. As for Jupiter, despite its great distance, its apparent angle changes according to the observer’s location, and its direction becomes parallel to the Qiblah only within a limited range around Mecca.

Also, the apparent movement of the Sun is more regular on the meridian and can be easily monitored, while the height of Jupiter changes more quickly, which makes its use as a global reference less practical.

A scientifically and aesthetically important phenomenon

Abu Zahira believes that the event represents an important scientific opportunity to test the accuracy of astronomical models of the movement. Jupiter, and reflects the regularity of the movement of celestial bodies. The phenomenon can also enhance scientific awareness of concepts such as meridian, azimuth, and angular elevation, and explain how to simulate the sky through astronomical programs in various Arab cities.

On the practical side, the sun’s perpendicularity remains the most accurate and easy option for determining the Qiblah, while the moon’s perpendicularity provides an additional option in some locations, and Jupiter’s perpendicularity adds a scientific and aesthetic dimension that enhances the passion for astronomical observation among those interested in celestial phenomena.

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