Qibla direction in Tempe
30.23° from true north · north-east · 13,221 km to the Kaaba
In short
The qibla from Tempe is 30.23° from true north, towards the north-east. Simply face north and turn 30° to the right. The Kaaba is about 13,221 km away. Twice a year the sun is directly above the Kaaba. It is down or too low here then, so the shadow method does not work.
30.23°
Gold arc = 30° from north to the qibla
Three ways to face the qibla from Tempe
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1. Phone compass
Open a compass app, move the phone in a figure of 8 to calibrate, keep it away from metal, then turn until the compass reads 30°.
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2. Start from north
Face north, then turn 30° to the right. A right angle is 90°, so 30° is about a third of a right angle.
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3. The sun's shadow
Twice a year the sun is directly above the Kaaba. At that moment the shadow of any upright object points directly away from the qibla.
Sun over the Kaaba, 2027
- · 2:18 AM MST (the sun is down or too low in this city)
- · 2:27 AM MST (the sun is down or too low in this city)
Keeping the compass accurate
- Remove magnetic cases and keep the phone away from laptops, speakers and steel frames.
- Hold the phone flat. A compass points to magnetic north, while the degrees on this page are measured from true north, so the reading can differ slightly.
- Compare with the direction of the rows in a nearby mosque.
Qibla direction in nearby cities
| City | Distance from Tempe | Qibla |
|---|---|---|
| Tempe Junction | 3 km | 30.2° |
| Mesa | 8 km | 30.3° |
| Scottsdale | 11 km | 30.2° |
| Ahwatukee Foothills | 11 km | 30.2° |
| Gilbert | 13 km | 30.4° |
| Chandler | 14 km | 30.3° |
| Central City | 14 km | 30.1° |
Around Tempe the qibla is almost the same: it differs by 0.1° at most.
Frequently asked questions
What is the qibla direction from Tempe in degrees?
30.23° from true north, measured clockwise — towards the north-east.
How can I find the qibla without a compass?
Face north and turn 30° to the right. Twice a year the sun is directly above the Kaaba. It is down or too low here then, so the shadow method does not work.
When is the sun over the Kaaba in 2027, in Tempe time?
28 May 2027 at 2:18 AM MST (the sun is down or too low in this city) and 16 July 2027 at 2:27 AM MST (the sun is down or too low in this city).
What is the difference between true north and compass north?
True north points to the geographic North Pole. A compass needle points to the magnetic pole, which is in a slightly different place, so a compass reading can differ from the degrees on this page.
Do I need to share my location to see the qibla?
No. The qibla on this page is calculated from the coordinates of the center of Tempe, so you only need to pick a city.
Sources & method
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Kaaba coordinates · 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E
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Tempe coordinates · 33.4148; −111.9093 (city center) · GeoNames (geonames.org), CC BY 4.0
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Formula · Great-circle azimuth from true north