Rare celestial triangle over Arab world as crescent moon, Venus, Jupiter come together

Dubai: Early risers across the Arab world will be treated to a striking sight in the pre-dawn sky on Wednesday: a luminous celestial triangle formed by the crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter, visible to the naked eye on the eastern horizon.

Astronomers say the alignment is a matter of perspective rather than proximity. “What we see from Earth is a visual overlap caused by the different positions and orbits of these celestial bodies, it does not mean they are physically close in space,” said Majed Abu Zahra, president of the Jeddah Astronomy Society.

The moon will appear as a delicate waning crescent, just 26.3 days old and only 11 percent illuminated. Venus will shine as the brightest point of light, followed by Jupiter, forming a harmonious triangle with the moon. The stars Castor and Pollux, part of the constellation Gemini, will also appear to the left of the moon, adding to the spectacle.

Abu Zahra noted that the phenomenon will be especially clear from locations away from light pollution. While binoculars or telescopes can enhance the view, the triangle will be easily visible to the naked eye.

Beyond its visual beauty, the alignment carries scientific value. It offers an opportunity to observe the motion of celestial objects along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun, and to distinguish between the steady light of stars and the shifting brilliance of planets. 

Venus, for example, outshines Jupiter despite the gas giant’s enormous size, thanks to the reflective power of its dense cloud cover.