The construction of the lunar observatory in Makkah has been completed, and King Abdulaziz

City for Science and Technology (KACST), in coordination with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs

and Endowments, Call and Guidance, is currently undertaking studies to determine the

direction of Kiblah in more than 200 towns and villages all over the Kingdom. KACST has been

monitoring the crescent at the Kingdom's various lunar centers which are equipped with

retractable telescopes. On the other hand, in response to a request from the Ministry of

Education, KACST has undertaken a study to determine the altitude of the sun at different

seasons of the year in more than 530 locations in the Kingdom. Meanwhile, the fully-equipped

laser observatory station in the solar village is making efficient daily recordings of

observations of satellites, and data is being collected, for example about the movement of the

earth's crust on the Arabian Peninsula.

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