Latest news with #JordanianAstronomicalSociety
Jordan News
4 days ago
- Science
- Jordan News
Astronomical Start of Summer Next Saturday - Jordan News
Astronomical Start of Summer Next Saturday The head of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, Dr. Ammar Al-Sakaji, confirmed that the summer solstice for this year will occur at 5:42 a.m. on the upcoming Saturday, according to the local time of the Kingdom. He noted that this moment marks the astronomical beginning of summer in Jordan and in the Northern Hemisphere. اضافة اعلان In a statement made on Thursday, he explained that the summer season will last for 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes, ending with the autumnal equinox on September 22. On the day of the solstice, Jordan will experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year, as the time between sunrise and sunset reaches its maximum. This phenomenon is observed in most countries located north of the equator, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day of the year concurrently with the winter solstice. He pointed out that the summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its maximum northern declination in its apparent path around the Earth — that is, when it is at its highest point in the sky. During this time, Earth's axis is tilted most directly toward the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, causing the sun's rays to be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. He added that after this day, the sun will begin to shift apparently southward in its annual journey, passing through the autumnal equinox in September before continuing to its southernmost point during the winter solstice on December 21. Dr. Al-Sakaji also noted that this year's summer solstice coincides with a rare astronomical event known as the "Major Lunar Standstill" (Lunistice), a cycle that occurs once every 18.6 years. During this cycle, the moon reaches its extreme northern or southern declination in its apparent orbit around Earth. He explained that this cycle causes a noticeable change in the moon's path across the sky, as it rises and sets from points far from the usual east and west, tilting toward the north or south. This deviates from the moon's typical movement pattern. He also pointed out that the moon appears lower in the sky during some of its phases, especially during the full moon, as observed during the June 11 full moon, when the moon appeared clearly tilted toward the southern horizon with a noticeably lower orbital height. This shift in the moon's path contrasts with the sun's position during the summer solstice, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, rising from the far northeast and setting in the far northwest. Dr. Al-Sakaji considered this contrast between the movements of the sun and the moon a rare opportunity for astronomical observation, emphasizing that ancient civilizations used such phenomena in the design of their temples and monuments, and relied on them for agricultural timing and calendar systems, as these astronomical moments served as highly significant reference points. He noted that the Jordanian Astronomical Society monitors these events annually by tracking sunrise and sunset times, measuring astronomical angles related to the sun's movement, and observing its apparent path from various locations in Jordan for scientific and documentation purposes, in order to enhance public awareness of astronomy. Petra News Agency
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.
