Astronomers have announced that a rare celestial event in which the Sun will be positioned directly overhead will coincide with this year’s Day of Arafah.
The phenomenon, considered uncommon from an astronomical perspective, occurs only once every 33 years in alignment with Arafah Day. The last time it happened was during the 1993 Day of Arafah.
According to astronomical calculations, on the 9th day of Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH (May 26, 2026), the Sun will be directly above the Kaaba in Makkah at exactly 12:18 PM Makkah time.
This moment coincides with the Dhuhr prayer time in Makkah. Because the Sun will be positioned precisely overhead, objects will cast almost no shadow at that time. The Earth will also be approximately 151 million kilometers away from the Sun during the event.
Astronomically, Makkah’s location at around 21.4 degrees north latitude allows the Sun to align directly overhead twice each year, during its apparent movement between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. However, due to the way the Islamic Hijri calendar shifts against the Gregorian calendar, the alignment specifically occurring on Arafah Day only happens once every 33 years.
Regarding the phenomenon, the National Center for Meteorology stated that this is a natural astronomical occurrence and does not lead to any unusual changes in temperature.
The center’s spokesperson, Hussein Al-Qahtani, explained that temperature levels depend on factors such as humidity, cloud cover, wind movement, and atmospheric pressure.
He also noted that claims suggesting the overhead alignment of the Sun would cause abnormal heat are not scientifically proven. He urged the public to rely on official authorities for accurate weather-related information.