Astronomers say that the sun will align with the Holy Ka’aba at the GrandMosque on Thursday at 12:18 Saudi time (14:18 PST).

According to experts, the disc of the sun will be positioned directly overthe Holy Ka’aba and will lose its shadow for a brief moment.——————————

Majed Abu Zahra, the Head of Jeddah’s Astronomical Society, said that thecelestial phenomenon is called “zero shadows” takes place twice every yearat the Grand Mosque as it is centered between the Equator and the Tropic ofCancer.

“Due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, the sun travels at 23.5 degrees northand south of the celestial equator, and falls directly overhead on placeslying over the equator during the equinox,” he said.——————————

Abu Zahra said that people will have a chance to determine the exactdirection of the Holy Ka’aba as well.

“People can do so by placing a wooden stick vertically in the ground; thedirection of the Qibla will be the exact opposite the stick’s shadow,” heexplained.