The first quarter moon of Safar 1448 AH adorned the sky of the Northern Borders region this evening, a celestial sight visible to the naked eye after sunset, with half of the moon's disk illuminated, marking about a week since the start of the lunar month, in one of the most prominent phases of the monthly lunar cycle. Zahy Al-Khalawi, head of the Astronomy and Space Society in the Northern Borders, explained that the first quarter phase occurs when the moon forms an angle of approximately 90 degrees with the Earth and the sun, causing the side facing Earth to appear about 50% illuminated. He noted that this phase is one of the best times to observe the moon's surface features, as the boundaries between light and shadow highlight details of craters, mountains, and lunar plains more clearly than other phases. He added that this astronomical phenomenon provided an excellent opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers, especially in the wilderness areas of the Northern Borders region, which are known for clear skies and low light pollution, resulting in sharper and more precise views. He pointed out that the illuminated portion of the moon's disk will continue to increase over the coming days until it becomes a full moon in the middle of the lunar month, as part of the natural cycle of lunar phases that repeat monthly. He emphasized that these phenomena are not exceptional events but rather help enhance astronomical awareness and encourage the community to follow celestial phenomena and benefit from them in observation and scientific photography.