Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1433

Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1433 (Thursday 18th August 2012) Based on settings*

Ramadan Kareem , first of all the Crescent visibility for Shawwal on 17th August (Friday Evening) won’t happen due to the following reasons;

1. The Moon Crescent is still in Waning Gibbous and still did not enter into the new moon phase (Waxing Gibbous). The Conjunction Occurs After Sunset.
2. The Moon sets approximately ~22 minutes before the Sun.
3. It is 28th of Ramadan (Oman), Therefore Ramadan cannot be 28 days. Instead Ramadan must be 29 or (30 Max) Days.

For the main three reasons above, the Official Sighting Day is on 18th of August 2012.  In case of Saudi Arabia, It’s 29th of Ramadan and the sighting on this day (17th August) is not possible due to the same reasons above.

Saudi Arabia will fast 30 days of Ramadan, Therefore Saudi  Arabia has no Official Sighting Day. Saudi Arabia and its followers has no option but to simply declare that on Sunday 19th 2012 is the first day of Eid Al Fitr, whether they witness the crescent Hilal or not.

The report for Official sighting day in Oman (18 August 2012).

* Settings:-

– Moon Times from: 18/08/2012  (dd/mm/yy) (24hrs)

– OMAN Muscat, Long: 58:35:36.0, Lat: 23:36:48.0, Ele:21.0, Zone:4.00

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.95 days old.

Set Time difference : ~19 minutes

Based on the astronomical calculations, the Crescent (Hilal) will be visible across the country. In Oman and the Arab Gulf countries, the Hilal will only be visible thru optical aid such as Binoculars and Telescope. If we go towards South of Africa and Brazil, the chances of visibility increases as it could be possible to sight Hilal by Naked eye. As shown in the graph photo above. (Graph produced by Accurate Times software)

However the chances for Crescent visibility either by using optical aid or naked eye depends on many other factors. Please Click here to refer to old post for the factors.

The screen shot above from Starry Night Pro software which shows the new moon on. 18th/8/2012, 29/Ramadan/1433 (Arabic date). In the picture you can see that the Moon is around ~11°  away from the Sun @18:00, and the moon is only 0.95 days old which is a bit challenge to observe by naked eye even when viewed through optical aid.

We’ve got a big chance to observe the Hilal on higher Altitude here in Oman. With the help of technology and the equipment’s that we have, I say that 90% chances that Shawwal will be on 19th Of August.

This time will be fun and challenge, it all depands on the factors which I’ve mentioned earlier in my old post. Hopefully we will be able to sight it on that day. In-Sha-Allah (If God Wills)

If not, Ramadan will continue its 30 days.

Please Note: It is very bad to make a final conclusion stating that the month will start on such day (without reasonable evidence)  . We will be committing shirk if we do that. Instead we shall say the starting of such month will be so- on the following date after sighting the Moon Waxing Crescent (Hilal). InShaAllah

May Allah accept our fasting, forgive our sins, and guide us all to the Straight Path. May Allah bless us all during Ramadan, and throughout the year, with His forgiveness, mercy, and peace, and bring us all closer to Him and to each other. Ameen.

Clear Skies and Ramadan Kareem

                  Image Credit: Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and Valentin Grigore, Romania. GAM