In this page:-

• When to Observe ?
• Observing the Crescent
• The First Day in Different Countries
• The Accuracy of The Astronomical Calculations.

The geocentric new Moon will occur on Friday 16 April 1999, at 04:22 UT. The program Moon Calculator by Dr. Monzur Ahmed -according to Ilyas' criterion- showed that the crescent will be visible by naked eyes on 16 April some where starting from the eastern coast of South America. And so, countries west of this area will be able to see the crescent on this day. However, using telescopes, the crescent will be seen in more eastern areas. Thus, arrange for observing the crescent after the sunset of 16 or 17 April.

Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of Muharram in different countries will be added here as we receive the reports from ICOP's members. If you wish to be a member in ICOP, or to know more about it, kindly click here.

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab, said: "I tried to see the crescent by telescope and binocular but I could not. It was dusty for about 7 degrees above the horizon. The sunset at 18:16, the Moon set at: 18:38. At sunset the moon altitude is 4.2 degrees and the Moon elongation was 7:17 (m:s). Tomorrow (Saturday) is the first day here. Happy new year."

• Jordan: 12 observers of JAS and ICOP went to western Amman in trying to glimpse the very thin crescent. Unfortunately, as we reached the location, we were surprised to the see the western horizon hazy AND partly cloudy. We were very disappointed. However, we tried to see it by naked eyes and binoculars, but none of us saw it.

  The observers were:-

  1. Ms. Dua' Riyal (ICOP & JAS).
  2. Moh'd Murad (ICOP & JAS).
  3. Moh'd Alawneh (ICOP & JAS).
  4. Moh'd Odeh (ICOP & JAS).
  5. Hani Dalee' (ICOP & JAS).
  6. Eng. Khalil Konsul (President of JAS & AUASS).
  7. Prof. Abdus-Salam Ghaith (JAS).
  8. Hamza Abdo (JAS).
  9. Ahmad Abdo (JAS).
  10. Ms. Sana'a Abdo (JAS).
  11. Ms. Arwa Yunus (JAS).
  12. Ms. Khawlah Yunus (Guest).

• South Africa:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "The Crescent Observers Society went to their sighting vantage points to search for the Hilal on Friday, 16 April 1999. The western horizon was covered with thick cloud. Otherwise, the weather was good, clear skies. No crescent was sighted. We never use binoculars or telescopes. The Muslim Judicial Council declared Sunday, 18 April 1999, 1 Muharram 1420."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. John Caldwell of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), mentioned that the sky was cloudy, and so he could not see the crescent.

• USA: Dr. Omar Afzal, the chairman of Committee for Crescent Observation (CFCO) sent us the below E-mail:-

  "CFCO received the following information:

  Muharram crescent moon was sighted on Friday, April 16, at:

  1. Smithfield, Utah: 3 persons.
  2. Phoenix, AZ: 6 Persons.
  3. Los Angeles: 3+ persons.

  As the sighting was 'expected' on Friday in all these places the claims of sighting were accepted and Saturday, April 17 was declared the first day of Muharram 1420.

  ACTION ALERT: In Ramadan 1420 (Wed, Dec. 8, 1999) the Muslims in N. America will face a much more difficult situation. Saudi Arabia will begin Ramadan on Dec. 8 (Wed.) as if a moon was SEEN there on Dec. 7 (Tuesday) evening (almost 8 hours BEFORE the birth of the New Moon). In the U.S. and Canada the chances of sighting a moon on Wednesday, Dec. 8,1999 evening are "good" only in San Diego. The visibility curve is touching only the southwestern-most areas of the USA. Please alert your contacts in those areas, especially in San Diego and south to look for the Ramadan moon on Wed. evening. In case the Moon is NOT SEEN anywhere in the US, we will begin Ramadan on FRIDAY, Dec. 10, 1999.

  Shawwal 1420.

  Saudi date for Eid al-Fitr is Friday. Jan. 7, 2000. However, as the tradition goes they are expected to change it to Thursday, Jan. 6. For decades, they avoid 'Eidain' (Eid and Juma') on the same say. If they do it then the Muslims in N. America have to wait TWO days to have their Eid al-Fitr on Saturday, Jan. 8. The rest of the world will have Eid on Jan. 9 (Sunday). Shawwal crescent moon cannot be SEEN on Wednesday. It will ne visible only in parts of USA on Friday evening.

  Omar Afzal Com. for Crescent Observation Intl."

Saturday 17 April

• India: ICOP member, Dr. Sultan Ismail saw the crescent on this day by naked eyes.

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi said: "I didn't try to see the moon on April 16th. On the evening of Saturday, April 17th the Crescent of Muharram was very high and clear."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Alabi Isiaq said: "The crescent was observed on Saturday (17/04/99) evening, even by naked eyes. However, there was a heavy downpour here and hazy clouds across some section of the city on Friday (17/04/99), and no crescent was seen on Friday."

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: "As calculated theoretically, the New Moon was on Friday 16 April 99, at 4h22mn51sec and the Crescent was visible on Saturday 17 April 99, at 19h and officially the Moroccan TV and Radio have declared that the first day of the Islamic New Year was Monday 18 april 99. Thank you."

• UK: ICOP member, Mr. Arshad Baig informed us that the sky was cloudy on 17, 18, 19, and 20 April, and so he was not able to see the crescent !

To know about the accuracy of the astronomical calculations, then please click here