A s t r O c e a n O m y

2013 The last breath

Posted on January 1, 2014 | 2 comments

2013 was a great year in Astronomy. We’ve participated in many Astronomical Activities. Details of each event will be posted individually later InShaAllah (If God wills)

In 2013, I created a A Facebook Page, and I tend to share the most interesting news/pictures related to Astronomy from around the globe

Also I created a new Website related to Astrophotography, AstrOceanOmy.net (Under Construction Yet) However please have a look and drop me a line for any comments.

Yesterday (30th December 2013) I had my second attempt in Astrophotography with a Telescope

AstrOceanOmy Observatory

The Orion Nebula – M42 / M43 (AstrOceanOmy Observatory) Details will be posted later!

The Picture Above was taken on 31st December 2013 at midnight Just before 2014 Smile . Notice the Constellation Orion just above my head. The Telescope was pointing towards the Planet Jupiter, as we were observing the event of Ganymede, on of Jupiter’s moons pops-out from behind the Planet at 11:50pm (UTC+4)

M42 ISO800at30Sec

Live Long and Prosper Smile

Happy New Year

2 Comments

Posted in Events

Tagged Orion, telescope

Crescent Visibility Report for Thul Hijjah 1434 AH

Posted on October 5, 2013 | 3 comments

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*

Saturday 05 October 2013

* 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.

3 Comments

Posted in Events, Religion

Tagged crescent, Hilal, moon

Our Planet around Our Star

Posted on July 19, 2013 | 4 comments

28th Earth revolution around the Sun since the owner of this website was born

Screen Shot 2013-07-19 at 14.21.40

The image above is taken from the famous Solar Walk software. The blue dot represents Planet Earth travelling around the Shiny Star, Our Sun.

Today Friday, July 19th, the Cassini spacecraft will photograph Earth through the rings of Saturn–and NASA wants you to jump into the shot.

“Cassini has photographed Earth before, but this will be the first time Earthlings know in advance their picture will be taken from a billion miles away,” says Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. “We hope that people around the world will go outside to wave at Saturn while the photo-shoot is underway.“

Wave at Saturn

Cassini’s cameras will be trained on Earth during a 15 minute interval that begins at 2:27 p.m. PDT (5:27 p.m. EDT or 21:27 UTC).

I so am excited about this rare opportunity on this historical Special Day to send photons of all of us waving at Saturn, I am encouraging everyone around the world to wave at Saturn today.

Todays July 19, 2013, image will be the first to capture the Saturn system with Earth in natural color, as human eyes would see it. It also will be the first to capture Earth and its moon with Cassini’s highest-resolution camera.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in Wave at Saturn contest, and specially to the ones who won. Winners will receive free telescopes from Explore Scientific. Congratulations..
Get the full story from Science@NASA. NASA JPL, FaceBook Page Event, NASA’s Cassini Mission to Saturn FaceBook Page

A massage from IAU Outreach:

Dear all,

Be in the photo – Friday 19th July: On July 19th, 2013 between 21:27 and 21:42 UTC, the NASA’s Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn will turn towards Earth and take a picture of Saturn, it’s rings, and the distant Earth and Moon in what has been called a Pale Blue Dot image (the first of this kind was the 1990 photograph by the Voyager 1 spacecraft from a record distance of about 6 billion kilometers from Earth).

If you’re outside then, and can see Saturn then theoretically you’re in the photo. Earth will be about one pixel in the photo, so no need to dress up – unless you participate in the “Interplanetary Photobomb” and post photos of yourself waving at Saturn.

Photograph Saturn for a Great Mosaic. Submit widefield photos of Saturn appearing in the night sky above your local landscape; photos of people observing Saturn; photos of people with an image of Saturn in hand (having their portrait taken with the “star” of the show). Coordinated by TWAN, all approved images will be combined into a mosaic of what the Cassini image is expected to look like when it is released some six months later. The mosaic will be zoomable so viewers can zoom in and see the individual images from around the world. Everyone at any age from around the world are invited to submit images.

The diversity of locations, people, and compositions enrich the resulted mosaic. Telescopic images of Saturn are not the main goal of this project as they are beyond the capability of all but a tiny percentage of the world’s population. The submitted images should be made anytime through 22 July. You can submit older photos if they were taken during 2013. More information on the program page. Submit photos here.

Observe Saturn with AWB. When the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn takes its historic portrait of Earth on 19 July the world will be watching. Join Astronomers Without Borders in showing Saturn to as many people as possible. Check the July 19 events list or the world map world map if you are looking for an event in your area to attend and if you are organizing an event for The Day the Earth Smiled register here.

Message to the Milky Way. If you are a photographer or a music composer this is your chance to transmit your peace of work to the universe; a message that might eventually arrive to intelligent inhabitants of others worlds in the galaxy; a work of art that describe our life and planet Earth along with other contents of this galactic message. The two connected contests are held in association with Cassini’s imaging of Earth on 2013 July 19. The winning entries will be Chosen in worldwide competitions sponsored by Diamond Sky Productions and guided by illustrious group of Advisors, will be included in a digitally encoded message that will be broadcast into the galaxy from the most powerful single radio telescope on Earth, the 305-meter Arecibo dish in Puerto Rico, on the anniversary of The Day The Earth Smiled. The images should be an original work, taken on July 19, 2013, that best visually illustrates what makes planet Earth unique in our solar system. The original piece of music should present the spirit of The Day The Earth Smiled and puts to music that ancient human longing to understand the meaning of our own existence. See the Message to the Milky Way page for more information.

Resources:
– The World at Night Saturn gallery, featuring a unique collection of images from around the globe presenting planet Saturn in the starry sky of the Earth. twanight.org/saturn
– Saturn Mosaic Project on Astronomers Without Borders
– An Observing Guide to Saturn on Sky&Telescope website
– Saturn in Your Kitchen and Backyard (classroom activities for educators), by Cassini Outreach Team
– Read 7 Billion People And Trillions Of Creatures To Be Photographed Together On July 19, by Robert Krulwich, the National Public Radio

Please send us your input to info@astro4dev.org for the next newsletter which we will aim to send out on Friday 26th July 2013.

Clear skies,
On behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach,
JC & Kevin
www.astro4dev.org

Ramdan Kareem

Ramadhan Kareem

Please make Special Duaa while waving at Saturn Smile

4 Comments

Posted in Events, Planet Earth

Tagged earth, saturn, sun

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan & Shawwal 1434

Posted on July 7, 2013 | 5 comments

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)

8 July Hilal Sighting for Ramadan 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.

Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 18.00.00

Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 18.00.00 Zoom

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

Screen Shot 2013-07-08 at 18.00.00 Zoom2

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)

——————————————————————-

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

Hilal Sighting for Shawwal 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`

Age of Moon: Waxing Crescent : ~ 0.62 days old.

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.

Screen Shot 2013-08-07 at 18.00.00

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

Screen Shot 2013-08-07 at 18.00.00 Zoom

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

Screen Shot 2013-08-07 at 18.00.00 Zoom2

~ 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 Smile . 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

Hilal Sighting

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.

5 Comments

Posted in Events, Religion

Tagged crescent, Hilal, moon

Astronomy – State of the Art

Posted on March 28, 2013 | 2 comments

Astronomy – State of the Art Course by Professor Chris Impey

Introduction

About this course

This course is for anyone who loves astronomy and wants to get up to date on the most recent astronomical discoveries. Join Professor Chris Impey and our team of instructors from Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona to learn the science behind the latest astronomy news headlines, to enrich your understanding of the universe, and to glimpse the future of this exciting area of research. Courses runs from March 25 to May 10, with one major topic covered each week for seven weeks. Lecture material will be augmented by discussion, live Q&A, and guest lectures. Find us on Facebook, Google+, YouTube, and follow us on Twitter @AstronomySOTA.

Category:Math and Science

Tags:astronomy, space, science, research, math and science

what’s in the course?
Over 26 lectures and 2 hours of content!
Become familiar with the cutting edge of astronomy research, from the Solar System and exoplanets to galaxies and the distant universe.
Learn how astronomers are addressing profound issues such as the existence of life beyond Earth and black holes and the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
Gain an appreciation for the technological innovations in telescopes and detectors that are transforming our view of the universe.

Course requirements:
Interest in Astronomy

Who Should Attend?
Everyone
Amateur Astronomers
Planetarium Educators
Science Center and Museum Educators
Science Teachers
Astronomy Instructors
Students of Astronomy

This course runs from March 25 to May 10, 2013 for free. You can still register for this course if you were late. Completion Certificates Available. Register online: http://www.teachastronomy.com/mooc/

Clear Skies

2 Comments

Posted in Studies

Tagged Astronomy, math, Research, Science, Space

2012 in review

Posted on December 31, 2012 | 2 comments

For the first time, AstrOceanOmy is sharing it’s site statistics annual report for the year 2012!

All thanks to the WordPress stats helper, which prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 14,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 3 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

NASA Response to 21st/December 2012

Posted on December 20, 2012 | 6 comments

Dec212012

Dec. 21, 2012, won’t be the end of the world as we know, however, it will be another winter solstice.

Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the claims behind the end of the world quickly unravel when pinned down to the 2012 timeline.

Below, NASA Scientists answer to the most frequently asked questions regarding 2012:

Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012. neo-asteroid-threat-art
Answer (A):The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012 and linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 — hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then — just as your calendar begins again on January 1 — another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.

Q: Is NASA predicting a “total blackout” of Earth on Dec. 23 to Dec. 25? total blackout&% of Earth on Dec. 23 to Dec. 25 A: Absolutely not. Neither NASA nor any other scientific organization is predicting such a blackout. The false reports on this issue claim that some sort of “alignment of the Universe” will cause a blackout. There is no such alignment (see next question). Some versions of this rumor cite an emergency preparedness message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. This is simply a message encouraging people to be prepared for emergencies, recorded as part of a wider government preparedness campaign. It never mentions a blackout. ›Watch the Video

Q: Could planets align in a way that impacts Earth? december-21-2012-planetary-alignment

A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. One major alignment occurred in 1962, for example, and two others happened during 1982 and 2000. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence. › More about alignment

Q: Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Planet X or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction? Nibiru
A: Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles.

Q: What is the polar shift theory? Is it true that the Earth’s crust does a 180-degree rotation around the core in a matter of days if not hours?
A: A reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible. There are slow movements of the continents (for example Antarctica was near the equator hundreds of millions of years ago), but that is irrelevant to claims of reversal of the rotational poles. However, many of the disaster websites pull a bait-and-switch to fool people. They claim a relationship between the rotation and the magnetic polarity of Earth, which does change irregularly, with a magnetic reversal taking place every 400,000 years on average. As far as we know, such a magnetic reversal doesn’t cause any harm to life on Earth. Scientists believe a magnetic reversal is very unlikely to happen in the next few millennia. › More about polar shift

Q: Is the Earth in danger of being hit by a meteor in 2012? asteroid_earth_impact
A: The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare. The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today NASA astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit. We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the NASA Near-Earth Object Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.

Q: How do NASA scientists feel about claims of the world ending in 2012? NASA scientists atmarinerv oct67 control
A: For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012. › Why you need not fear a supernova
› About super volcanoes

Q: Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012?

A: Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history. › Video: Solar Storms
› More about solar storms

Have a nice year ending and Clear Skies InShaAllah (if God wills) in 2013.

6 Comments

Posted in News and politics, Planet Earth

Tagged earth, NASA

December Twenty First 2012

Posted on December 17, 2012 | 2 comments

Yes the day is coming, and again this topic is so hot around the world and I’ve received lots of email regarding the deadly event which will take place on 21st Dec 2012..

December Twenty First 2012 Weather

Nearly 4 years back I’ve posted about December 21 2012 and I’ve said that the World wont end in that date.. No one knows when it will happen (The dooms day) Except Allah (God).

I’m very disappointed from some of the Muslim brothers who believed in this false flag event.. The Quran says that no one knows but Allah, and that day (the dooms day) will come suddenly.. I’ve already posted in my previous post “UARS satellite & EleNin X”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرۡسَٮٰهَا‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّى‌ۖ لَا يُجَلِّيہَا لِوَقۡتِہَآ إِلَّا هُوَ‌ۚ ثَقُلَتۡ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ لَا تَأۡتِيكُمۡ إِلَّا بَغۡتَةً۬‌ۗ يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ كَأَنَّكَ حَفِىٌّ عَنۡہَا‌ۖ قُلۡ إِنَّمَا عِلۡمُهَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَڪۡثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٨٧)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

They ask you about the Hour (i.e. the Doomsday), “When is it due to happen?” Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. No one can unfold it except He at its time. It shall weigh heavy in the heavens and the earth. It shall not come upon you but suddenly.” They ask you as if you were aware of it. Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of the people do not know.” (187) The Holy Qur’an

Surah Al-Araf – سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف

AND

December Twenty First 2012

Your Stuff

Your belongings including the Christmas gifts will be totally safe with AstrOceanOmy World Smile and will be distributed to charities.

AstrOceanOmy AstrOceanOmy Planet Earth

For the rest of mankind, please collect your new 2013 Calendar from our friend below.

2013 Mayan's Calender

There are indeed bad things to happen, I won’t say soon but I’ll say its just around the corner. Some of this bad things is already taking place and about to explode….And I see the Illuminati (Hollywood) took advantage of this event very nicely, Who Will Survive 2012

May Allah (God) be with you

2 Comments

Posted in Events, News and politics, Quran

Hilal Sighting news for Dhu al-Hijah 1433H

Posted on October 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

According to the Universal Hejric Calendar (UHC), which is based on the calculated crescent visibility, the start of this month in the Eastern Region will be on Wednesday 17 October 2012 and in the Western Region will be on Tuesday 16 October 2012. Thus, the first day of Eid in the Eastern Region will be on Friday 26 October 2012 and in the Western Region will be on Thursday 25 October 2012.

Thul Hijjah Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results for Oman today [16 October 2012] For other countries, please refer to ICOP website.

Seen: ICOP member Prof. Mohammed Al-Bussaidi from Al-Fulaij City in Muscat State mentioned that the sky was partly cloudy, the atmospheric condition was hazy, the crescent was not seen by naked eye, the crescent was not sought by binocular, the crescent was seen by telescope, the crescent was seen by CCD Imaging
Prof. Mohammed Al-Bussaidi said: “The crescent moon was sighted an hour and ten minutes before sunset. The crescent was seen all the way until after sunset.”

Saudi Arabia: The Crescent was seen as well. Therefore Tomorrow 17th October 2012 will be the first day of Dhu al-Hijah.

Dhualhija 1433Hilal

Hajj and Eid Mubarak to All – May Allah Accept our ibadah (prayers) and forgive all of us..Ameen

Note: This is not a technical report. For any Crescent/sighting data, please contact me or comment on this post below. Clear Skies

Crescent Visibility Report for Shawwal 1433

Posted on July 31, 2012 | 5 comments

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;

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.
The Moon sets approximately ~22 minutes before the Sun.
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

Timing: (18th/08/2012)	Sun	Moon
Rise	05:42	6:12
Transit	12:09	12:34
Set	18:35	18:54
Azimuth @18:00	280°	269°
Altitude @18:00	7° 3.6’	11° 5.7’

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.

Screen shot 2012-08-18 at 18.00.00

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.