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International Astronomical Center

ICOP

Visibility of Ramadan Crescent
(1428 AH)



Last Updated 28 September 2007
In This Page:-


When to Observe Ramadan Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Tuesday 11 September 2007) at 12:44 UT.

Sighting the new crescent on (Tuesday 11 September 2007) and on (Wednesday 12 September 2007) is shown in the below graphs using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Wednesday 12 September 2007

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 Thursday 13 September 2007, and in the Western Region will be on Thursday 13 September 2007 also.

- Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of the month in different countries will be added here Inshalla 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.

Ramadan Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Wednesday 12 September by ICOP members from Iran, the crescent was also seen on this day from Oman, France, South Africa, Tanzania, USA and Guyana.

Tuesday 11 September 2007:

  • Indonesia:

    1. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said: "We tried together to observer the new crescent on top floor of Saphir Square Plaza in Yogyakarta City (Jogja) with many islamic institutions which organized by Local Committee. The result Calculation and Observation of Crescents was tried to observer the NEW CRESCENT of Ramadhan 1428 H was NOT SEEN because the Moonset before Sunset. The first Ramadhan in Indonesia will begin on Thursday 13 September 2007. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds, because most of moslem in Indonesia will starting ramadhan fasting together-on the same day."

    2. Not Seen: Dr. Susiknan Azhari said: "The new crescent of Ramadan was not seen on Tuesday 11/09/2007 from Shapire Square Yogyakarta by eyes nor by binocular. MUHAMMADIYAH has announced through its formal announcement letter (Maklumat) number 02/MLM/1.0/E/2007, that 1 Ramadan 1427 is corresponding to "Kamis Pon" 13 September 2007."

    3. Not Seen: Mr. Irfan Madani said: "Just to let you know, Indonesia has officially anounced that the 1st of Ramadan this year will be on Thursday 13 September 2007 after failed of sighting the hilaal today (Tuesday, 11/9)."

    4. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha MMC said: "On top roff (9rd floor) of Plaza in Yogyakarta city (Jogja) many groups who organized by Local Committee for Calculation and Observation of Crescents was tried to "rukyatul hilal" of Ramadhan. The western sky condition was clear no clouds and only little haze but the crescent has not seen such as anywhere in the country because the moonset before sunset. After evaluation meeting for hilal observation (itsbat), Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs has officially declared on National TV that the first Ramadhan begin on Thursday 13 September 2007. More info can be get on http://rukyatulhilal.org"

  • Malaysia: Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Abdul Wahid Abdul Majid said: "The Crescent was not seen at the place because conjunction will be at 2044 hours localtime. Moonset 9 minutes before sunset according calculation. So Malaysia start Ramadan at 13 September 2007"

  • Nigeria:

    1. Not Seen: Mr. Jubril Aminu said: "The Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs(NSCIA) has officially announced on saturday(08/09/2007)that muslims should commence fasting on Wednesday(12/09/2007). NSCIA is the highest muslim body in Nigeria recognise by the giovernment, therefore Nigeria has officially declared Wednesday(12/09/2007) Ramadan 1."

    2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "In spite of of the clear skies, we did not try sighting the crescent today here in Bauchi because it is 28th Sha'ban and the moon set one mitute after the sun. However, as expected, the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Sultan of Sokoto announced latar in the evenning that the moon was sighted in many places in the northern part of the country and, thus, people should start fasting on Wednesday 12 September 2007. Most of the masses will start looking for the moon tomorrow, in sha Allah." Mr. Dukku added later on: "The moon was not sighted from anywhere on the globe on Tuesday. The claims from Nigeria are certainly wrong although not unexpected since this has been the situation in Nigeria for over 40 years: That is some Nigerians see the moon that is not there."

    3. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Lukuman Aminu said: "The sky was very clear in Lagos, Nigeria and the crescent was not sighted on Tuesday. The Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs(NSCIA) made another announcement on Tuesday night that the crescent was seen in more than five different states in Nigeria. Therefore most Nigerians commence fasting on Wednessday. Some group like the Zumratul Jamiu Muminu Society of Nigeria siezed to commence fasting on Wednesday, they insist on sighting the crescent before starting."

    4. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affair had early on Tuesday 11 September, declared that hilal of Ramadan was visible on tuesday evening, so some sectoin of Muslim in the country began Ramadan to day wednesday 12. Ramadan Kareem to all member of ICOP and Muslim in general"

  • South Africa: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "Wednesday - 12 September 2007 is the 29 day of Shabaan 1428 AH in South Africa. There is an excellent possibility of the Ramadaan Hilaal being sighted throughout South Africa on this Wednesday evening. The first day of Ramadaan should be on Thursday, 13 September 2007."

  • Norway: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Imran Mushtaq said: "The Decision by Islamic Council of Norway is to fullfill 30 days of Ramadan and start 1st Ramadan on 13.09.2007 InshaAllah". Mr. Mushtaq mentioned that it was partly cloudy.

  • UK:

    1. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Zafar Iqbal said: "Here in Britain has been anounced that Ramadan will begin on 13 and 14 of September."

    2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti said: "I am unable to perform the sighting in Oxford. Although today, Tuesday 11th of September, is still the 28th of Sha'ban in the UK, this is to report negative sightings in the Indonesian islands despite clear skies there today. The national authority there has declared that Ramadan will begin on Thursday, 13 September 2007. This report of negative sightings in the East is confirmed by negative sighting in the West, as in Morocco today. We are expecting Ramadan to begin the earliest in the UK on Thursday, subject to positive sightings anywhere East of the UK tomorrow, at which time I will make another report."

  • Canada: Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Maher Nofal said: "I went to see the moon, Tuesday 11 September 2007, Ottawa, Canada. It was Cloudy and Rainy. I could not see it. Here in Canada, has been announced that Ramadan will be begin on Thursday 13 of September."

  • Guyana: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I tried to observe the Hilaal in Rose Hall Town, Guyana after sunset on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007. Despite scattered clouds on the horizon no Hilaal was observe as was predicted by the visibility curve. No sighting reports were made over the TV of Hilaal observation throughout Guyana. It was announce on a daily basis on the TV that the month of Ramadan will begin in Guyana on Wednesday night with the first fast starting on Thursday, InsaAllah. This was also announced on the calendar that we prepare. I think Muslims are set on this and they will attempt Hilaal sighting tomorrow. If the entire Guyana is overcast then CIOG will declare fast on Friday and cause a major division in Guyana that occurred last year both for Eid Ul Fitir and Eid Ul Adha. We will try to observe the Hilaal tomorrow (Wednesday) also hoping the weather will permit us to see the Hilaal, InshaAllah."

Wednesday 12 September 2007:

The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries

Wednesday 12 September 2007:

  1. Libya (Conjunction Before Dawn)
  2. Nigeria (NSCIA, Calculations)
  3. China (and on Thursday)

Thursday 13 September 2007:

  1. Australia
  2. Indonesia
  3. Malaysia
  4. Singapore
  5. Iran
  6. Saudi
  7. Kuwait
  8. UAE
  9. Bahrain
  10. Qatar
  11. Yemen
  12. Jordan
  13. Palestine
  14. Syria
  15. Lebanon
  16. Egypt
  17. Tunis
  18. Algeria
  19. South Africa
  20. Tanzania
  21. Namibia
  22. Angola
  23. Botswana
  24. Zimbabwe
  25. Uganda
  26. Malawi
  27. Turkey
  28. Holland
  29. Belgium
  30. France
  31. Austria
  32. Germany
  33. Norway
  34. Sweden
  35. Bosnia
  36. UK
  37. Mexico
  38. USA (ISNA)
  39. Canada
  40. Guyana
  41. China (and on Wednesday)
  42. Philippines (and on Friday)

Friday 14 September 2007:

  1. New Zealand
  2. Sri Lanka
  3. Pakistan
  4. Morocco
  5. Senegal
  6. Spain
  7. Philippines (and on Thursday)

Ramadan Beginning World Map

ICOP Official Statement

  • Kindly Click Here to read ICOP official statement (Arabic).

    Saudi Will Look for The Crescent on Monday 28 Shaban!

    Surprisingly, Saudi announced officially on Saturday 08 September 2007 that they are not sure of the beginning of both; Rajab and Shaban, and hence they will look for Ramadan crescent on Monday 10 September!! So Ramadan could start in Saudi on Tuesday 11 September!! We wonder how they will look for the crescent on Monday, when it is impossible to be seen on Tuesday, and it will NOT be seen by naked eyes from Saudi even on Wednesday!!

    When to Observe Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent ?

    The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Tuesday 11 September 2007) at 12:44 UT.

    Sighting the OLD crescent on (Monday 10 September 2007) and on (Tuesday 11 September 2007) is shown in the below graphs using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

    • It is impossible to see the OLD crescent from the areas located under the red color. Because either the Moon on this day rises after the Sunrise and/or the topocentric conjunction occurs before the Sunrise.
    • The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid only from the areas located under the blue color.
    • The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid from the areas located under the magenta color. In these areas the crescent could be seen by naked eye if the atmospheric conditions are superb and the observer is experienced.
    • The crescent is expected to be easily visible by naked eye from the areas located under the green color.
    • The crescent can not be seen from uncolored areas, even though the Moon rises in these locations before the Sunrise and the topocentric conjunction occurs after the Sunrise, but the Moon is not sufficiently illuminated in order to be seen as crescent even by optical aid.
    • Kindly notice that the below graph shows the possibility of seeing the crescent from areas between 60 degrees north of Equator down to 60 degrees south of Equator.

    Monday 10 September 2007

    Tuesday 11 September 2007

    Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

    Monday 10 September 2007:

    • Indonesia:

      1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Sudibyo Ma'rufin said: "The waning crescent sighting was done in Wates, Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta Special Region (position: 7deg 37min South 110deg 09min East, 5 m ASL, time zone: GMT + 7). We used instruments: an internal-clock at Siemens C-55 phone that calibrated with 103 reference time that served by Telkom Co.Ltd and a 7 x 35 binocular. When observation was started at 05:00 local time, the sky was very clear and several stars that have magnitude greater than +1,0 was seen easily. The crescent was seen too, at altitude ± 5 degree approximately. Orientation of the crescent was 3 - 7. The crescent was seen for last at 05:30 local time (with binocular). Until we detected sunrise at 05:39 local time, situation hasn't changed."

      2. Seen: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said: "I observer by myself after praying shubuh. I used my naked eye tobservere the old crescent and as soon as possible I take it by my DSLR Canon Camera. I'm very glad to see this morning crescent. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds."

    • Iraq: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bacil Moudhaffar said: "Waning crescent was easily seen from about 5:55 am until about 6:20 am this morning Monday 10-09-2007, sun raise local time about 6:41 am."

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