Jeddah: Tonight after midnight, the last quarter moon of Shaban will be visible across the Kingdom. Half of the moon will be illuminated, while the other half remains in shadow, completing about three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the last quarter moon draws the attention of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, offering an ideal angle to observe surface features like craters, volcanic plains, and mountains, with shadows along the terminator enhancing their clarity.

Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra noted that the last quarter moon marks a key transitional phase. Its visible light will gradually decrease, becoming a waning crescent before sunrise, until the new moon on February 17 signals the upcoming sighting of Ramadan's crescent.

Observing the moon during its last quarter phase offers an educational and scientific opportunity to understand how its phases change due to sunlight reflecting off its surface as it orbits the Earth, enhancing awareness of astronomical concepts.