Tag Archives: moon

Crescent Visibility Report for Thul Hijjah 1434 AH

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 Sun Moon Sleeping half-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.

Crescent Visibility Combined Report for Ramadan & Shawwal 1434

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 Sun

Moon Sleeping half-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 Sun

Moon Sleeping half-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.

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).

Shawwal 1433 Aug 18

* 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 Sun

Moon Sleeping half-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.

Clear Skies and Ramadan Kareem

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

Eid Mubarak

Today is the last day of Ramadhan the holy month. And after the Sunset Eid starts. People starts celebrating by early tomorrow morning after the Eid Prayer.

photo

Just as festivity becomes the atmosphere when the fast is broken each day at sunset, happiness becomes doublefold when the month of fasting is finally completed and the Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated.

The most elaborate dishes are served at large banquets to which relatives and friends are invited. These  colorful celebrations are the climax of the sense of fulfillment characterizing,a month of fasting and hardships, increasing the bonds of connectedness among humankind and between humankind and God.

Yesterday we could not sight the new Moon Crescent because it was impossible. As you see in the picture below, the Sun and Moon almost sets at the same time and the elevation is only 5 degrees.

photo

May Allah accepts our fasting, prayers and bless us all. Ameen.

Eid Mubarak

Lunar Eclipse Pictures

On Wednesday 15th of June @ night, I managed to take some shots of the lunar eclipse using my lil 3 inch (76mm) Catadioptric telescope and Apple iPhone 4.

IMG_0939

IMG_0936

The Moon was so bright in early stage, therefore I used the green Lunar filter.

IMG_0957

Red Moon..Without the lunar filter

IMG_0967

And yeah 🙂  some drinks, Barbican (Non-Alcoholic Drink) Just for refreshing 🙂

Lunar Eclipse Album

Technical Data:

  • Telescope: 3 inch (76mm) Catadioptric type, 600mm focal length, tabletop mounted.
  • Eyepieces: H20mm with green lunar filter
  • Camera model: Apple iPhone 4, (5 megapixels)
  • Image Type: jpeg (Width: 2592 pixels, Height: 1936 pixels)
  • Exposure Time: 1/15 sec, normal.
  • Camera Aperture Value: 2.97 EV (f/2.8)
  • Camera ISO Speed Rating: 500
  • Camera Focal Length: 3.9 mm
  • Metering Mode: Pattern
  • Camera Software: iOS 4.3.2
  • Location: Muscat, Oman. (Athaiba – Ocean area, on top of the roof surrounded with plants 🙂
  • Weather Temperature: 31°C , feels like 40+
  • Sky Condition: Haze around the horizon
  • Humidity: ~80%
  • Field Time: 22:15 (GMT+4) to 16th June 00:45 (GMT+4)
  • Refreshment Drink: Barbican ^_^

Total Lunar Eclipse on June 15

lunar-eclipse

People in the Arab world, European, African and Western Asian countries will witness a total lunar eclipse on Wednesday (June 15) and will be viewed in relative density for 100 minutes over two days.

It is the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2011, the second occurring on December 10.

Bookmark your calendar now, if you’re in the indicated zone above

The eclipse will start at 10:23 pm (GMT+4) on Wednesday in partial shading, develop into full eclipse at 11:23 pm (GMT+4) on the same day and continue till 1:02 am (GMT+4) on Thursday.

“The peak of the lunar eclipse will be at 12:13 (GMT+4) (Wednesday), while the partial lunar eclipse will last till 2:02 am (GMT+4) (Thursday).” The moon will not disappear totally because of the reflection of sunshine from the Earth’s surface.

Lunar Eclipse

Click on the image above for more information on time & place..

Provided by Larry

Clear Skies on June 15th hopefully 🙂

50 Amazing and strange Astronomy facts

What do you think?

1-Saturn would float if you would put it in water.
2-If you would place a pinhead sized piece of the Sun on the Earth you would die from standing within 145 km (90 miles) from it.
3-Space is not a complete vacuum, there are about 3 atoms per cubic meter of space.
4-Only 5% of the universe is made up of normal matter, 25% is dark matter and 70% is dark energy.
5-Neutron stars are so dense that a teaspoon of them would be equal to the weight of the entire Earth’s population.
6-The Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon but is 400 times further away from Earth making them appear the same size.
7-The star Lucy in the constellation Centaurus is a huge cosmic diamond of 10 billion trillion trillion carats.
8-Seasons last 21 years on Uranus while each pole has 42 years of sunlight followed by 42 years of darkness.
9-Venus,on the other hand, does not have any seasons at all.
10-1 year on Mercury consists of less than 2 days on Mercury.
11-There are as many oxygen atoms in a breath as breaths of air in the atmosphere.
12-Helium is the only substance in the universe that cannot be in solid form.It can’t be cold enough.
13-The coldest place in the universe is on Earth. In Wolfgang Ketterles lab in Massachusetts. 0.000000000001 degrees Kelvin.
14-The pistol star is the most luminous star known 10 million times the brightness of the Sun.
15-Saturn’s moon Titan has liquid oceans of natural gas.
16-All the planets are the same age: 4.544 billion years.
17-Earths moon was most likely formed after an early planet named Theia crashed into Earth.
18-8000 stars are visible with naked eye from Earth. 4000 in each hemisphere, 2000 at daylight and 2000 at night.
19-90-99% of all normal matter in the universe is hydrogen.
20-Only 55% of all Americans knows that the Sun is a star.
21-Because of the speed the Sun moves at, solar eclipses can last at most 7 minutes and 58 seconds.
22-Lunar eclipses, however, can last 1 hour and 40 minutes.
23-All the coal, oil, gas, wood and fuel on Earth would only keep the Sun burning for few days.
24-A full moon is nine times brighter than a half moon.
25-When the Moon is directly above your head or if you stand at the equator, you weight slightly less.
26-A single Quasar produce the same amount of energy as 1 trillion suns.
27-Just after the Big Bang, everything in the universe was in liquid form.
28-A planet nicknamed “The Genesis Planet” has been found to be 12.7 billion years old making it the oldest planet found.
29-The shape of the universe looks a lot like a brain cell.
30-Every year, the Moon is moving away from Earth by 3.8 centimeters.
31-The Moon spins around its axis in the same time it goes one lap around the Earth which makes us always see the same side of it.
32-Upsilon Andromeda B also only face one side to its star. One side is hot as lava while the other one is cold below freezing.
33-The average galaxy contains “only” 40 billion stars.
34-While in space astronomers can get taller, but at the same time their hearts can get smaller.
35-Mars surface is cowered with iron oxide (rust).
36-Only half a billionth of the energy released by the Sun reaches Earth.
37-Rogue planets are not bound by any star, brown dwarf or another planet which makes them free-float around the galaxy.
38-Sweeps 10 is the planet with the shortest orbital period found. It orbits its star in only 10 hours.
39-85% of all stars in our galaxy are part of multiple-star systems.
40-Some brown dwarfs have liquid iron rain falling down on them.
41-The light emitting from the Sun is actually 30.000 years old.
42-Of the over 20 million meteors that are observable every day only one or two reach the surface of Earth.
43-The United States have approximately 3.500 astronomers, but over 15.000 astrologers.
44-The closest black hole to Earth is only 1.600 light-years away.
45-There are at least 10^24 stars in the universe.
46-Certain “star quakes” have been found to tear apart the surface of neutron stars.
47-Any free-moving liquid in outer space will form itself into a sphere due to surface tension.
48-The odds of being killed by falling space debris is 1 in 5 billion.
49-Neutron stars can rotate up to 500 times in 1 second.
50-The largest structure found in the universe is the Sloan Great Wall, a super cluster of galaxies 1.37 billion light-years wide.

Very interesting facts from Astronomers & Scientists.. I still could not get it about fact number 18 ? Half of the stars are visible at daylight with naked eye from Earth? Could anyone explain!

Funny comments from Rediff blog

I’ve received an email from Indian friend telling me to check Rediff blog in particular this article >>> Rediff.com  »  Business » The world’s first solar plane

The blog was on the article where 2 scientists have invented a plane that will run on solar energy….…they claim it will work at night as well.

The funny comments starts here>>>  🙂

Suggestion
by Purushottam Abuj on Jun 30, 2009 01:38 PM

“Actually Government should use the geographical advantage of we being on the opposite side of USA . We should dig a through hole from the center earth which will connect India and USA , so we can put wire through it. So in India ‘s day time sun light and solar energy can be given to USA and they can give us the same in their day time. Also we can fit an train through it so that we dont have to use planes for travelling.

Similarly Finland and New Zealand can be connected using a vertical angular hole.
The best part is if we drop something from Finland it will automatically come down to New Zealand due to gravity, so lot of energy can be saved which we lose in transportation and travelling. This saved energy can then be stored in everyday pencil cells and can be sold at Rs 14 each. This additional revenue can then be
used to educate the people and the children of farmers so that they will have earning sons and they will not sucide.”

Comments:

Re: Suggestion
by SUNDEEB NAIR on Jun 30, 2009 01:50 PM
“Brilliantest idea ever spelt. But when digging hole from India to US, we should take care when digging at the end, otherwise the excavators & engineers, laborers etc. will fall out of the earth into space. I differ reg. pricing pencil cells at Rs.14/-, due to inflation, drought the price should be raised to like 14.50”

Re: Suggestion
by venky iyer on Jun 30, 2009 01:48 PM
“purshottam ur definately a mahapurush,i must recommend you to padma bhushan nd vidya bhushan awards for u”

Re: Suggestion
by Rajnish Singh on Jun 30, 2009 01:46 PM
“Making hole in earth is not a good idea. We can just break sun into 4-5 parts and fit one part above India , one above US, one above Finlad and one above New Zealand.”

Re: Re: Suggestion
by Rajnish Singh on Jun 30, 2009 01:48 PM
“Sanjoy, I have already nominated him for Noble prize. Please don’t forget to watch India TV tonight ;-)”

Re: Re: Suggestion
by manoj lakhanpal on Jun 30, 2009 01:57 PM
“This is realy a grt idea guys.. one more thing we are missing.. How Bhart Ratan Purush (Honai wallai) can forget to utilize MOON.. We need to workout to utilize moon light in night rather than digging our motherland.. …”

Re: Re: Re: Suggestion
by Purushottam Abuj on Jun 30, 2009 02:01 PM
“Yes I agree as Moon glows in the night it means surely it is having some sort of energy, My suggestion is Next time when we launch chandrayan, connect some wire to its end and then send to earth. So the energy can directly reach from Moon to Sriharikotta. By the way, dont forget to another wire for Earthing, becoz I am not sure if Moonthing works.”

Re: Suggestion
by Gaurav Kaul on Jun 30, 2009 01:55 PM
“thank god you posted this here and not on a foreign website.otherwise all indians would be branded mental patients ….”

Re: Suggestion
by Ungli on Jun 30, 2009 01:52 PM
“what an idea sirji,:) ”

Re: Suggestion
by chin chu on Jun 30, 2009 01:59 PM
“and what if all the kids playing the hole fall into it? Like it does happen everywhere around these days..pahle borewell me girte the…abhi isme girenge. he he”

Re: Re: Suggestion
by Rajnish Singh on Jun 30, 2009 02:02 PM
“Ismein girenge to US pahunch jaayenge….”

Re: Re: Re: Suggestion
by chin chu on Jun 30, 2009 02:08 PM
“and dont forget the garib janta who goes out every morning with LOTA PANI to do the daily pooing stuff…what if somebody does it in the hole? US will get a taste of India …”

Hahahahahahahahaha

Clear Funny Skies,