Astronomical Alignment Expected on Day of Arafat
The sun is set to position itself directly above the Holy Kaaba in Makkah this year, according to astronomers. This rare alignment occurs only once every 33 years and will take place at noon on May 27, 2026.
This solar positioning happens twice a year due to Makkah’s location near latitude 21.4° north. The phenomenon was last seen coinciding with the Day of Arafat in 1993.
Experts say this timing results from the difference between the lunar Hijri calendar and the solar Gregorian calendar, which realigns roughly every 33 years.
Saudi Arabia’s National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) has emphasized that the phenomenon is a natural and recurring astronomical event and does not indicate extreme weather conditions or unusual temperature spikes.