Category Archives: Events

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility  Report for Thul Hijjah 1434 AH (Saturday 5th October 2013) (29th of Dhu al-Qidah 1434) Based on settings*

* Settings:-

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Saturday 05 October 2013) at 00:36 UTC.

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

Timing: (5th/10/2013) @17:00:00	Sun	Moon
Rise	05:58:46	06:06:34
Transit	11:53:53	12:03:48
Set	17:48:56	18:00:37
Azimuth (Degree)@17:00	259° 57.277′	253°  51.625′
Altitude (Degree)@17:00	10°  16.376′	12°  19.247′

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent (Hilal) : ~ 0.53 days old.

Set Time difference : ~12 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 5:48 Pm @ (264° 53.317` W), and 6:00 pm @ (259° 53.825` W) for the Moon which makes out only around 12 minuets before each set below the Horizon. It is therefore very difficult to sight the Crescent on this day not only in Oman but the whole middle east region.

And, based on the calculated crescent visibility, the start of this month in the Eastern Region will be on Sunday 06 October 2013 and in the Western Region will be on Sunday 06 October 2013. Hence the first day of Eid in both regions will be on Tuesday 15 October 2013. It has to be matched due to Hajj, And Allah Knows best.

The results will be posted later in the comments section below. Please visit later today for the final conclusion.

Have a nice day and Clear Skies

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

In the Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan 1434 (Monday 8th July 2013) & Shawwal 1434 (Wednesday 7th August 2013), Based on settings*

Crescent Visibility  Report for Ramadan 1434 (Monday 8th July 2013) (29th of Shaaban 1434)

* Settings:-

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

Timing: (8th/07/2013) @18:00:00	Sun	Moon
Rise	05:25:00	05:24:10
Transit	12:10:41	12:10:01
Set	18:56:14	18:53:55
Azimuth (Degree)@18:00	~289° 46.311`	~284° 10.566`
Altitude (Degree)@18:00	~11° 5.030`	~10° 41.631`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.24 days old.

Set Time difference : ~1.5 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:56 Pm @ (294° 57.400` WNW), and 6:53 pm @ (288° 54.851` WNW) for the Moon which makes out only 1.5 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

On this day, the Moon sets nearly 2 minuets before the sun, which makes the crescent sighting not only difficult but impossible.

The Crescent is already born on this day, however based on the astronomical calculations and personal experience , the Crescent (Hilal) will NOT be visible across the country.

Therefore Shaa’ban will continue its 30 days

Ramadan will start on Wednesday, 10th July 2013  InShaAllah (If God Wills)

Please note, Ramadan starts after the Sunset on Tuesday  ..

(Not to get confused, The Arabic new day always starts after Sunset)

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Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1434 (Wednesday 7th August 2013) (29th Ramadan 1434)

The crescent will be impossible if “not possible” to sight in most parts of the world on this day, however the chances to sight increases as we head towards south east; South Africa and South America.

* Settings:-

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

Timing: (7th/08/2013)	Sun	Moon
Rise	05:38:01	05:53:35
Transit	12:11:21	12:24:01
Set	18:44:26	18:52:01
Azimuth (Degree)@18:00	~283° 55.160`	~275° 8.468`
Altitude (Degree)@18:00	~8° 57.281`	~10° 42.77`

Set Time difference : ~7.5 minutes

Based on the Astronomical data report, the Sun sets at 6:44 Pm @ (288° 7.761` W), and 6:52 pm @ (279° 55.673` W) for the Moon which makes out only 7.5 minuets before each set below the Horizon.

On this day, the Moon sets after the Sun, which brings a hope to sight if possible compared to the first repot above.

The Azimuth between the Moon and the Sun is nearly 9°

~ 98% chances that Ramadan will be 30 days this year. Just giving 2% hope to our new advanced Telescope and CCD camera to find the crescent under clear skies hopefully . Please refer to my previous post for the factors.

Based on the astronomical calculations and personal experience , the Crescent (Hilal) will NOT be visible across the country.

Therefore Ramadan will continue its 30 days InShaAllah (If God Wills)

Shawwal will start on Friday, 9th August 2013 InShaAllah (If God Wills)

Wish you all a clear skies and a happy sighting day (If you could find it ^_^)

You’ve got nearly 2% to sight it using advanced optical systems/CCD cameras

Ramadan Kareem and Eid Mubarak in advance to Everyone.

May Allah Accept our fasting, Prayers and good deeds. Ameen.

For more information regarding the topic; Please feel free to search this blog above, just type “Hilal” under the search window.

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