{
  "id": 9818032,
  "title": "Full moon lights up Saudi skies in striking astronomical event",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/full-moon-lights-up-saudi-skies-in-striking-astronomical-event",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-25T19:22:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/5y6i25fs3"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A dazzling full moon illuminated the skies of Saudi Arabia on Monday, captivating observers and photography enthusiasts across the Arab kingdom. The Islamic month of Rabi Al-Akhir hosted the celestial phenomenon, as the moon reached its peak full phase with an impressive 98.78 percent illumination. Spanning 387,145.29 kilometers from Earth, the moon's brightness was set to peak at 99.42 percent by day's end, while the distance between the lunar body and our planet shrank to 385,598.67 kilometers. Zahi Al-Khalwi, president of the Space and Astronomy Association, emphasized that observing the full moon in this phase is a rare and noteworthy astronomical event, easily visible to the naked eye. The moon graced the Saudi sky from sunset until sunrise, providing a unique opportunity for both casual viewers and astrophotographers to capture the stunning sight.",
  "summary": "The full moon of Rabi Al-Akhir dazzled observers across Saudi Arabia, offering a captivating spectacle for astronomy enthusiasts and photographers.",
  "key_points": [
    "Full moon with 98.78% illumination graces Saudi skies on Monday",
    "Moon's brightness peaks at 99.42% by day's end",
    "Rare astronomical event visible from sunset to sunrise"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Egypt condemns missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, voices full support",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/egypt-condemns-missile-attacks-on-saudi-arabia-voices-full-support",
        "published": "2026-09-25T14:41:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}