Latest news with #AmmarSakaji
Jordan Times
08-05-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Jordan to observe rare ‘Mini-Apogee' full moon on Monday
By JT - May 08,2025 - Last updated at May 08,2025 The Mini-Apogee occurs when the full moon coincides with its position near apogee, the farthest point in its elliptical orbit around Earth (JT file) AMMAN — The Jordanian Astronomical Society on Thursday said that Jordan and other countries will witness a distinctive astronomical event on Monday evening: the May full moon, also called the "mini-apogee moon." The moon will reach its peak illumination at precisely 8:00pm Jordan time and is expected to appear red or orange during moonrise due to its low position on the horizon and the effect of atmospheric scattering, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society Ammar Sakaji said that the full moon will rise from the east-southeast approximately half an hour before reaching full phase. The phenomenon occurs when the full moon coincides with its position near apogee the farthest point in its elliptical orbit around Earth making it appear about 6 per cent smaller than a typical full moon, Sakaji noted. Its apparent diameter will be 29.48 arc minutes, compared to the 33.5 arc minutes of a supermoon near perigee, he added. Sakaji noted that at the moment of fullness, the moon will be about 405,278 kilometres from Earth, having passed its apogee roughly 40 hours earlier, at 3:49am on Sunday. He added that in various cultures, this full moon is referred to by symbolic names such as the "Flower Moon," "Bud Moon," "Agricultural Moon," and "Egg-Laying Moon," all of which evoke themes of renewal and growth typical of the spring season. Sakaji underscored the value of such celestial events in enhancing humanity's connection to the cosmos and encouraged astronomy enthusiasts to prepare cameras and telescopes to observe and document the occasion. The society also urged photographers, especially astrophotographers, to capture images of the moon rising behind iconic Jordanian landmarks, including mosques, churches, archaeological sites, mountains, and deserts.
Jordan Times
26-03-2025
- Science
- Jordan Times
Shawwal crescent too faint to be seen even with telescopes
The Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS) says on Wednesday that astronomical calculations show it would be "impossible" to sight the Shawwal crescent for the year 1446 AH after sunset on Saturday, March 29, in Jordan (Petra photo) AMMAN — The Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS) said on Wednesday that astronomical calculations show it would be "impossible" to sight the Shawwal crescent for the year 1446 AH after sunset on Saturday, March 29, in Jordan and across the Islamic world, whether with the naked eye or telescopes. Despite the crescent being above the horizon after sunset, it will be too faint to observe, the JAS added, according to Al Rai Newspaper. JAS President Ammar Sakaji explained that the crescent will be exceedingly thin and faint, making it invisible even with telescopes. Astronomical calculations indicate that the crescent will remain above the horizon for varying lengths of time in Arab capitals: 11 minutes in Cairo, 10 minutes in Jerusalem, 7 minutes in Mecca, and 18 minutes in Marrakesh. Sakaji emphasised that the JAS does not have the authority to announce the dates for Islamic holidays or religious observances, adding that the responsibility for determining the start of Hijri months lies with the Grand Mufti of Jordan and the Iftaa Department, Research, and Islamic Studies, which serve as the official sources on such matters. He also reiterated that the impossibility of sighting the crescent is based on internationally recognised astronomical criteria, including the Babylonian, Al Battani, Ilyas, Schaefer, Danjon, Yallop, Alawi, and Odeh criteria. Sakaji also noted that various astronomical and physical factors, such as atmospheric distortion and turbulence caused by dense air masses, contribute to the crescent's faintness. Additionally, light scattering and absorption, particularly from short-wavelength light, further hinder visibility. Sakaji added that large ground-based telescopes face challenges in observing the crescent due to technical limitations, such as tracking objects close to the horizon, and the fact that these telescopes are not designed for such observations. He proposed that one solution to improve crescent sighting in the future could be the development of specialised solar telescopes, similar to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), which uses advanced techniques like a coronagraph to block sunlight and reveal celestial objects near the sun. Sakaji highlighted that technological advancements, including artificial intelligence for predictive modeling and the expansion of both ground-based and space-based solar telescopes, could improve the accuracy and effectiveness of crescent observation in the future.
