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International Astronomical Center

ICOP

Visibility of Ramadan Crescent
(1430 AH)



Last Updated 26 August 2009
In This Page:-


When to Observe Ramadan Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Thursday 20 August 2009) at 10:02 UT.

Sighting the new crescent on (Thursday 20 August 2009) and (Friday 21 August 2009) is shown in the below graphs using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

Thursday 20 August 2009

Friday 21 August 2009

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 Saturday 22 August 2009 and in the Western Region will be on Friday 21 August 2009.

- 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 -after sunset- was on Friday from Australia by ICOP Member Mr. Afroz Ali, the crescent was also seen on this day from Indonesia, Fiji, Iran, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Somalia, Senegal, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, USA, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

Thursday 20 August 2009:

  • Nigeria: Not Seen / Clear: ICOP member Mr. Simwal Jibril mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eyes or binoculars and the sky was clear.

  • USA: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said:
    "Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
    Longitude = 111.1 W
    Latitude = 32.22 N
    Elevation = 962 meters
    Time Zone = -7.0 hours

    Surface conditions at Tucson International Airport (805 m):
    Temperature = 37 degrees Celsius
    Relative Humidity = 15 percent
    Sea Level Pressure = 1005 mb

    Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
    Sunset (at sea level) = 19:07
    Moonset (at sea level) = 19:17
    Time from new moon at 19:12 = 17 hr. 08 min.
    Moon lag time = 10 min.
    Relative Altitude = 1.9 degrees
    Elongation from sun = 9.6 degrees
    Crescent width = 14 arc seconds
    Illumination = .71 percent

    I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope.

    Several of us met at the observing site, but I was never able to share a view of the crescent. I was not sure of several of the criteria (maybe the result of a catastrophic telescope accident during last month’s attempt), so I began scanning the area from which the Moon should have appeared. It never did, despite an exceptionally clear atmosphere, which seemed to dry and clear in the two hours leading up to the observation."

Friday 21 August 2009:

  • Australia: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Afroz Ali said: "The Crescent was first sighted in Brisbane which had clear skies, although it was very cloudy in other regions, e.g., Melbourne and Sydney."

  • Brunei Darussalam: Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Hazarry Haji Ali Ahmad said: "The fasting month of Ramadhan for Muslims in Brunei will begin 22 August 2009 (Saturday) after Syarie Judges, officials of the Syariah Court and from the State Judiciary Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Survey Department of the Ministry of Development failed to sight the crescent moon. Attempts to sight the 'hilal' or the crescent new moon were made at several vantage locations across the country at Jerudong's Bukit Shahbandar, Bukit Agok Firing Range and Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District, and Bukit Lumut in the Belait District."

  • Indonesia:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bambang Eko Lasmadi mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eye.

    2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mutoha Arkanuddin said: "Today is the second day of crescent observation by us. Myself and some members of Indonesian Crescents Observation (ICO) and Official Team Lajnah Falakiyah of Nahdhatul Ulama Organization tried to sight the crecent from the Brambang Hill near Yogyakarta. According to the calculation, sunset at 17:38 LT, moon at sunset 11° 11' above the horizon and moonset at 18:29. Alhamdulillah, the crescent was seen for the first time by telescope about 4 minutes after sunset then by naked eye about 20 minutes after sunset. Base on this report the first day of Ramadhan in Indonesia begin on Saturday, 22 August 2009. More on http://rukyatulhilal.org."

  • Philippines: Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Satar Laguindab said: "We are now at Dalipuga, Iligan City, Philippines for the purpose of sighting the new crescent. We are a group of five, 4 men and 1 woman, and all adults. The west horizon is covered with thick clouds. It's a windy time. We have not seen the new crescent."

  • Fiji: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdul Qayyum Khan mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eye.

  • Bangladesh: Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP memeber Mr. ABM Hassan said: "The sky was cloudy, moon was not seen anywhere in the country on 21 August, Friday. 23 august will be the first Ramadan Inshallah."

  • India:
    1. Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Amin Haroon said: "In Mangalore it was cloudy sky and no one could see the Crescent. Sun Set was at 6:45 and Moon Set was 7:28, Altitude of moon might be 9 degree at Sunset and as per parabolic and Almanac calculation there was a chance of sighting crescent but unfortunately it was not and hence it was a Negative sighting reported."

    2. Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Mohammed Mohsin Khan said: "Today Friday 21 August 2009 / 29 Shaban 1430 in India. Here in Mumbai Sunset was at 07:02 pm IST and Moonset was at 07:40 pm IST. so there was 38 mins difference but Sky was cloudy hence Crescent has not been sighted in Mumbai and in Most Parts of India. Official Moon-Sighting Committee of INDIA have officially announced that Saturday 22 August 2009 is the 30th Shaban 1430 and 1st Ramadan 1430 will fall on Sunday 23 August 2009. Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims."

  • Pakistan: Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Sultan Alam said: "On my request, Today (Friday, 21 August 2009 = 29 Shaban 1430 in Pakistan) many hundred persons (Members of the moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" + My friends + their companions) tried to sight the moon all over Pakistan at nearly 60 places but the moon could not be sighted. Generally the weather was cloudy and hazy but it was clear at some places. Chairman of central official moon-sighting committee of Pakistan "Mufti Munee-bur-Rahman" also announced officially that Saturday 22 August 2009 is the 30th Shaban and 1st Ramadan 1430 will fall on Sunday 23 August 2009. Note: After some days, inshaallah, a detailed report of this observation will be available at www.esnips.com/web/moonnewsofjamiaturrasheed"

  • Iran:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani said: "The crescent of Ramadan has been observed on Friday, August 21, 2009, at 10:30 am LT (06:00 UT) by 5 person of Iranian observers under the supervision of Mr. Mohsen Sharifi with the 14" telescope (from 10:30 to 12:00 LT). Also, 4 other groups of Iranian observers in Kashan, Esfahan, Shah Reza and Zahedan observed the Ramadan crescent at sunset by using binoculars." Mr. Mehrani sent the below photo for Ramadan crescent taken by Mr. Amini Nezhad.

    2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Nima Mossayebi said: "- Exact location: Betlije village. - Observers:Nima Mossayebi, Hesam Moradi, Yekta Mohammadi, Hajar Aahmadzadeh (2nd team of Mahtab crescent observation group,Adib astronomy center) - Equipment:two 20*90 and one 20*120 binaculars,GPS. one of our gruops could see the new moon using 20*90 binaculars in Isfahan at 20:15 local time. Further information will be sent..."

    3. Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by binocular from Saravan city, and the sky was hazy and partly cloudy.

    4. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hossein Janghorbani said:
      The Astronomy and Geophysics Centre Of Shahreza & Women Astronomy and Geography Society of Isfahan Province
      Reporter : Hossein janghorbani
      Shahreza astronomy & geophysics centre` membership along with astronomy & geographic women of Isfahan province association in two groups along with respected members of Dehaghan Sepehr astronomy association on Friday evening started on journey Damzad field,where placed in east of shahreza:
      · Lat: 32° 0' N
      · Lon: 51° 52' E
      · Ele: 1825 m
      · Time Zone: +3.5

      First group, who had equipments included two binoculars set (20*120) belong to Isfahan army artillery department and Shahreza sentries army of Baghiatallah armour-plated rank, and also binoculars (20*80-15*170-7*50-7*42-7*35) belong to Shahreza astronomy & geophysics centre, cooperating Isfahan province seeing crescent army staff and Isfahan province transportation department, supervising Mr Hossein Janghorbani settled in the foot of Damzad mountain. Other group, who had equipments including a binocular set (20*90) and (15*70), supervising Mr Ali Janghorbani alongside Shahram Rahmati and Majid Heidari started on journey in the heights of Damzad mountain. The weather was somewhat cloudy with thick dust about 20 minutes before sunset , but it became better about 10 minutes before sunset so that clouds simply went out out of the sight and soft wind was blowing at the same time. So thick dust reduced for some moments and again dust became thick for some moments.

      At 19:40 min coincident real sunset, crescent moon was seen by Mr Hossein Janghorbani as flickering due to atmospheric accidents and vacillation in getting suspended contaminated particles thick and thin through binocular (20*120), then he considered that about 20 seconds so that seeing was correct . some moments later Ms Parisa Naderi and Marziah Sadri by binocular (15*70), Ms Nahid Hosseini and Nafisah Hosseini by binocular (7*42), Fariba Bostan by binocular (7*50) and Mr Mohammadjavad Nickeghbal by binocular (20*120), Davod Javeri by binocular (20*80), Reza Ensandoost by binocular (7*42) and Mehdi Sadeghi alongside Behzad Fadavi by binocular (7*42), stated that saw crescent. Showing same gnomon, they saw crescent moon hardly about 50 seconds among dusts , then crescent hid, because dusts thickened, while at 19:43 min during 28 sec and at 19:54 during 54 sec, above persons simultaneously saw crescent moon again. After that crescent wasn`t seen again. Second group who took action to see crescent in the heights of Damzad mountain, didn`t succeed .

      Some other respected members among these three times tried to see crescent by binocular (7*35), but they couldn`t conclude.

      At the end, we appreciate all dears who assist us , including seeing army staff of office excellency leader position of Iran, Isfahan province seeing army staff, army artillery centre of Isfahan, Shahreza sentries army of Bghiatallah armour-plated rank, Isfahan province Red Crescent population, Shahreza Red Crescent population, Professor Taher investigation student centre of Shahreza and respected professors such as his excellency Mohammadreza Sayad engineer, Sayed Mohsenghazi Mir Saeed, Alireza Bojmehrani engineer, Sayed Ghasem Rostami engineer and majesty eminence Alireza Movahednejad.

      The group members:

      1. Sadegh Gharaghani
      2. Mohammad Gharaghani
      3. Reza Ensandost
      4. Behzad Fadavi
      5. Mahdi Sadeghi
      6. Heydar Ali Baghestani
      7. Sajad Ansari
      8. Mohammad Eisa Aghdaki
      9. Javad Amiri
      10. Ahmad Reza Ansari
      11. Mr Poormoini
      12. Mr farsian
      13. Abdoallah Mobasheri
      14. Mohammad Javad Nikeghbal
      15. Qasem Khaleghi
      16. Mohammad Amini
      17. Benyamin Amiri
      18. Sayed Mohammad Mahdi Fakhri
      19. Sayed Abolfazl Kahangi
      20. Davood Javeri
      21. Reza Nikeghbal
      22. Mr Foroozandeh
      23. Mr Soofar
      24. Shahram Rahmati
      25. Majid Heydari
      26. Behnam Rezaee
      27. Ahmad Reza Zhoolideh
      28. Sayed Hossein Navabi
      29. Ayyoob Mirtavoosi
      30. Dr Mostafa Eshghi
      31. Sayed Abdoallah Madani
      32. Sayed Ali Kahangi
      33. Reza Janghorbani
      34. Ali Janghornani
      35. Hossein Janghorbani
      36. Zahra Heydari
      37. Marzyeh Baghestani
      38. Mahsa Amiri
      39. Marzyeh Asgari
      40. Maliheh Mosavi
      41. Mina Baghestani
      42. Naeemeh Sadat Saniee
      43. Fatemeh Haddad
      44. Soheyla Mahjor
      45. Shiva Naghdi
      46. Shoherh Taghizadeh
      47. Foroogh Yaghoobi
      48. Faezeh Amiri
      49. Fariba Bastan
      50. Hakimeh Ghermezi
      51. Reyhaneh Dadvand
      52. Roya Ghermezi
      53. Zinat Ghermezi
      54. Masoomeh Haffar
      55. Ziba Haffar
      56. Fatemeh Dehghan
      57. Zahra Parsania
      58. Arghavan Mahmoodi
      59. Anahita Mahmoodi
      60. Zhila Kadivar
      61. Atefeh Setayandeh
      62. Fatemeh Manoochehrnia
      63. Fatemeh Motghamibashi
      64. Neda Hosseini
      65. Nafiseh Hosseini
      66. Nahid Hosseini
      67. Toktam Bahrami
      68. Parisa Naderi
      69. Marzyeh Sadri
      70. Mahnaz Abdipoor
      71. Maryam Noora
      72. Shekoofeh Bahari
      73. Arezoo Tabibian
      74. Zhila Taghavi
      75. Zahra Fallahi 
      

    5. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Reza Amini Nejad said: "The Crescent was not seen by telescope, but we can take some images and when processed those images, the Crescent seen at about 10 frames!"

    6. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mostafa Fakhar said: "Telescope was aligned throw a computer and it wat auto working. The crescent was seen by telescope twice just for moment when the sun disappeared behind a cloud. first at 3:45 second at 5:40 . First time seen by Ms Shamshiragaran and second time I saw the crescent. But near the sunset sun was compeletly behind clouds so we could observe the crescen befor sunset by 20*90 and 20*60 binoculares."

    7. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Kambiz Khaleghi said: "Observer's: Asghar Hosseini, Asghar Abusi, Mohammad Nemati, Kambiz Khaleghi. Binocular:20*80. Just one of observer (Kambiz Khaleghi) could see cerecent really behind horizon and other who tried could not see anything. All of our group just could see Mercury afte sunset in 7:52."

  • Kuwait: Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: " In Kuwait at Kabad desert I and a group of about 70 persons could not see Ramadan crescent even with 8" telescope. It was hazy that the sun disappeared 14 minutes before our local sunset."

  • Oman: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammed Al-Bussaidi said: "The crescent moon was sighted but was very faint, and easy to spot it on the eyepiece."

  • UAE:
    1. Not Seen / Very Hazy: ICOP member Dr. Ilias Fernini mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent form Hafit mountain by telescopes and the sky was very hazy.
    2. Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Hasan Hariri mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent form Dubai by telescopes and the sky was hazy.

  • Saudi:
    1. Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by telescope and the sky was hazy.

    2. Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Very Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Bander Albotehy said: "The western horizon was cloudy and polluted. We (5 people) could not sight the new crescent neither by naked eyes, binoculars nor a telescope. The sun disappeared about 10 minutes before the actual sunset time."

  • Bahrain:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. A.Hameed Ali Haji mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by telescopes.

    2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ali Al-Hajri mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by telescopes and the sky was very hazy.

  • Jordan: Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Hazy: ICOP member Ms. Basma Diab mentioned that she was not able to see the crescent by naked eye, binoculars or by telescope, she added that the sky was hazy and partly cloudy.

  • Palestine: : ICOP member Ayman Tirhi mentioned that the first day of Ramadan is Saturday.

  • Lebanon:
    1. Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Dr. Hadi Jaafar mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by naked eye or by binoculars.

    2. Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Dr. Ahmad Raad mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eye or by binoculars, he added that the sky was hazy.

    3. Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Ibrahim Merhebi mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eye or by binoculars, he added that the sky was hazy.

  • Libya: Not Seen / Clear: ICOP member Mr. Salem Sahid mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eye.

  • Algeria: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bachir Babanou said: "Many persons were present in Markiche station, Used Naked-Eyes and 04 binoculars to Observation. The new crescent of Ramadan 1430 was seen only by one binocular used by Ibrahim Abdelaziz Member of Amnir,Assciation of astronomy amateur."

  • Somalia: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdulaziiz Hagi Bashiir said: "Here in Garowe and almost every where I contacted (like Qardho, Bosaso, Burtinle, Galkacyo, and others) the crescent was seen with naked-eyes."

  • Nigeria:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. AbdulRasaq Ishola Ikorodu said: "Alamudu lilahi the crescent was seen tonight infront of my yard in ikorodu ,lagos I and sheik Hassan Zarooq From Ilorin and brothers happy Ramadan to all"

    2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "Here at Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria we are able to sight the new crescent for the month of Ramadan along with lots of common folk in the neigbouhood though it not easily detect as result of partial cloud at western sky and because it is low on horizon. Meanwhile report from locaion from Sokoto, Kaduna and Maiduguri indicates positive result as well. This Year Ramadan is the first of it, as Nigeria as a whole insha Allah will be Ramadan on Saturday 22, though with different criteria, but all effort are appreciated."

    3. Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Hazy: ICOP member Imam Majolagbe Monsuru said: "We began sighting effort by sunset and retired after few minutes for Salatul Magrib, then we returned to the sighting ground but all our efforts proved abortive"

    4. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman El-Nafaty said: "The weather was partly cloudy. But suddenly part of the horizon became clear and the crescent was easily visible. I was in a group of 6. Alhamdu Lillah. This is also the first time in Nigeria for over 40 years that the country is starting Ramadan correctly. Salams."

    5. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "We saw the crescent here in Bauchi in a group of 33 observers. We also received reports of positive sighting from our collaborators in Jigawa, Kano, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara and Lagos States. Following reforms in the moonsighting system of the country, Nigerians started fasting together and on the correct date(and with the Muslsim world) for the first time in several decades."

  • Tanzania:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hamza Rijal said: "Hilal has been observed in the tiny Island of Zanzibar and Insha-Allah tomorrow 22nd August 2009 is Awal Ramadhan."

    2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Zaffar Sheriff said: "The sky was very cloudy at sunset. Later a tiny section of clear sky became visible, and the hilal was observed by five of us almost at the same time at 6.46pm. Ramadhaan Kareem to all of you."

  • South Africa: Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim mentioned that the sky was totally cloudy.

  • Ghana: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdul-Aziz Anyang said: "The conditions for yesterday was clear that in Ghana and in all other African countries, it will not be seen. Today Friday August 21, 2009, it was very very cloudy in the capital city - Accra, so I contact one of our members in the Northern region (Tamale) of Ghana and Lo and Behold because they have superb weather conditions, they saw it with their naked eyes. Tamale is about 550km north of Accra. For the first time, Saudi Arabia had started on the right date by not confirming yesterday Thursday as the first night of Ramadan, hence most African countries didn't start also. Thanks to ICOP information on the World Wide Web educating and creating awareness."

  • Senegal: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ibrahima Thierno Lo said: "I haven't seen the crescent myself in Dakar, beacause the western horizon was cloudy. But in other localities, the Ramadan Crescent has been sighted on 21st Aug 2009 Friday evening : Bignona, Kolda, Oussouye, Tambacounda and other part of Senegal. Thus the Ramadan first day in Senegal starting tomorrow 22nd Aug. 2009 Saturday."

  • Germany: Seen (Before Sunset by CCD): ICOP member Mr. Martin Elsaesser said: "We observed the crescent during the day, about 45 minutes AFTER it had risen in the east. The sun had risen some 80 minutes earlier, so the moon was still below the sun. We used the real-time video technique to get a live-image of the crescent, despite the haze and clouds. We could not see the crescent visually due to the clouds. The moon will set AFTER the sun this evening, though this will be difficult to observe, due to the small lag time of only 9 minutes."

  • Hungary: Not Seen / Clear: ICOP member Dr. M. Al-Majari mentioned that he could not see the crescent by naked eye.

  • Spain: Not Seen / Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad del Pozo said: " Friday 21 is for us the day 29 shaban. Seeing the crescent was tried but was not seen. Our amir order us to start de fasting on Saturday 22 trusting in the actual sighting of the crescent by our brothers in Morocco that on this matter are impeccable."

  • Norway: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Milad Ali Ershaghi said: "I tried to find the new moon of Ramadan this evening (Friday, 21 August 2009) from 10:15pm until 10:30pm in Sognsvann located in the northern part of Oslo, Norway. Local sunset time was 8:53pm (after local moonset time: 8:33pm) - and it was impossible to see the moon. I attempted to sight it anyhow - but was unable to - and there were clouds preventing a clear view of the sky."

  • UK: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Qamar Uddin said: "This is a combined report from ICOUK members from different parts of UK. On Friday 21 August 2009 many places in UK have tried to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) after sunset, but no naked eye sighting report was received even though many places had clear sky conditions. However, we have received reliable news of actual sighting (Muhaqaq Ruyat-e-Basri) from the East of UK. Therefore, the Ulama have decided that the month of Shaban 1430 AH will have 29 days and the month of Ramadan 1430 AH will start from Saturday 22 August 2009, Insha-Allah. Please see below a list of observer names for naked-eye sighing reports we have received to date. May Allah rewards them all for reviving the Sunnah of Hilal sighting this months in UK.

    East London (Negative/clear): Abdul Aziz Raje (plus 70 others)
    South London (Negative/cloudy): Shaykh Sulayman Gani (plus others)
    Ilford (Negative/clear): Mohamed Riaz (plus others)
    High Wycombe (Negative/clear): Maulana Amir Aziz (plus 15 others)
    Dewsbury (Negative/cloudy): Mohammad Siddique
    Batley (Negative/cloudy): Vashiullah (plus 10 others)
    Preston (Negative/clear): Maulana Farook Kazi
    York (Negative/clear): Shaykh Zubair Ahmed, Adel Aloraini, Ali Zafar, Noor Mohammed, Qamar Uddin."

  • USA:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Dashti (Gainesville, Florida) said: "The crescent was easily seen by naked eyes from Gainesville, Florida USA."

    2. Not Seen / Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Javad Torabinejad from (Blacksburg, Virginia) said: "This evening (Friday, August 21, 2009), I tried sighting the moon in Blacksburg, VA, with no success. The western horizon was mostly cloudy. I arrived at my sighting location prior to sunset and started scanning the open patches, using a pair of binoculars (7X50). I left for another location in town when more clouds moved into the suspected moon position in the W/WSW."

    3. Not Seen / Partly Cloudy / Very Hazy: ICOP member Dr. John Caldwell from (McDonald Obs, Texas) mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent by naked eye or by binoculars, he added that the sky was very hazy and partly cloudy.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:
    1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Kahiam Hosein said: "The crescent to begin the month of Ramadaan 1430 AH was confirmed sighted in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Surinam. The sky was cloudy in Trinidad and Surinam and it was clear in Tobago and Guyana. Kahiam Hosein On Behalf of Darul Uloom Trinidad and Tobago Moon Committee."

    2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdurrahman Ali mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eye.

  • Guyana: Seen: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eye.

The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries

Friday 21 August 2009:

  1. Libya (Astronomical Calculations)
  2. Turkey (Astronomical Calculations)
  3. Kosova (Following Turkey)
  4. Magdonia (Following Turkey)
  5. Romania (Following Turkey)
  6. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Following Turkey)
  7. Serbia (Following Turkey)
  8. Bulgaria (Following Turkey)
  9. Montenegro (Following Turkey)
  10. Albania (Following Turkey)

Saturday 22 August 2009:

  1. Brunei Darussalam (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  2. Indonesia (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  3. China (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  4. Philippines (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  5. Japan (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  6. Singapore (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  7. Saudi (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  8. Bahrian (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  9. Qatar (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  10. Kuwait (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  11. UAE (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  12. Yemen (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  13. Iraq (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  14. Jordan (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  15. Palestine (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  16. Lebanon (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  17. Syria (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  18. Egypt (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  19. Sudan (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  20. Somalia (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  21. Algeria (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  22. Tunisia (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  23. Mauritania (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  24. Nigeria (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  25. France (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  26. Netherlands (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  27. Switzerland (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  28. Check (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  29. Italy (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  30. Hungary (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  31. Belgium (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  32. Spain (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  33. Sweden (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  34. UK
  35. USA (After 30 Days of Shaban)

  36. Australia (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  37. Iran (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  38. Oman (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  39. Morocco (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  40. Senegal (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  41. Ghana (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)
  42. Tanzania (Actual Sighting of the Crescent)

Sunday 23 August 2009:

  1. Bangladesh (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  2. India (After 30 Days of Shaban)
  3. Pakistan (After 30 Days of Shaban)

When to Observe Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Thursday 20 August 2009) at 10:02 UT.

Sighting the OLD crescent on (Thursday 20 August 2009) and on (Wednesday 19 August 2009) 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.

Thursday 20 August 2009

Wednesday 19 August 2009

ICOP Official Statement

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

    Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

    Thursday 20 August 2009:

    • Indonesia: Not Seen / Clear: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said:
      1. Date of Observation : Thursday, 20 August 2009
      2. Status : NOT SEEN
      3. Location : Bendo-Ketitang-Juwiring-Klaten Indonesia
      Lattitude : 7° 41' 39.17" S
      Longitude : 110° 44' 20.64" E
      Time Zone : GMT+7
      Elevation : 98 m
      4. Moonrise : 05:19 LT
      5. Sunrise : 05:44 LT
      6. Moon alt @ Sunrise : 4° 56'
      7. Observer & Fotografer: AR Sugeng Riyadi

    Wednesday 19 August 2009:

    • Indonesia: Seen: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said:
      - Status : SEEN (on 05:12 LT)
      - Location : Bendo-Ketitang-Juwiring-Klaten Indonesia
      Lattitude : 7° 41' 39.17" S
      Longitude : 110° 44' 20.64" E
      Time Zone : GMT+7
      Elevation : 98 m
      - Moonrise : 04:26 LT
      - Sunrise : 05:44 LT
      - Moon alt @ Sunrise : 16° 45'
      - Observer & Fotografer: AR Sugeng Riyadi
      - Time Calibration : Nokia 9300i
      - Camera : DSLR Canon EOS Kiss N Series, Focal length = 55 mm, ISO = 400."

    • Iran: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani said:
      "Location: Esfahan, Iran
      Latitude: 32° 38' 29.38" N
      Longitude: 51° 38' 36.63 E
      Elevation: 1571 meters from sea level
      Time zone: +4.5

      Photographer: Alireza Mehrani
      Camera: Digital Sony camera DSC-H9

      Date: WED August 19, 2009 (Mordaad 28, 1388)
      Temperature: 22.4 C°
      Barometer: 843.1 mb
      Wind: Calm
      Humidity: 25%
      Visibility: 10 km
      The eastern horizon was dusty.

      Topocentric and local time values from "Moon Calculator" (Refrac off):
      Time: 05:54 LT (01:24 UT)
      Moon Alt: 9° 10' 48"
      Sun Alt: - (7° 56' 54")
      Elongation: 18° 08' 11"
      Rel Azi: 5° 59' 05"
      Moon Width: 0.83'
      Moon Phase: 2.76%
      Moon Age: 32h 37m before conjunction"

    • Lebanon: Seen: ICOP member Dr. Ahmad Raad said: "The Shaban waning crescent was seen by naked eyes this morning from Beirut, Lebanon. The crescent was so big to be easily seen despite the cloudy horizon."

    • Algeria: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: " The shaban old crescent was seen easialy from Ammar in Bentsguen, Algeria."

    • Ghana: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdul-Aziz Anyang said: "Our regional hilal member in the Upper-West region (Wa) of Ghana saw it with the naked eye. We in the capital city - Accra did not see it as it was very cloudy and hazy."

    • Spain: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abdel Karim As-Saraqusti said: "I was able to see the waning crescent at 5:54 with naked eyes, the crescent was very thin and a little red, I tried to take some photos but my camera it's no good for images of a thin crescent, but I saw it with my eyes, no binoculars or telescope needed, when the sky has more light I was not able to distinguish the crescent because there are a lot of small red clouds, so after 6:40 I cant saw the crescent anymore, the sun appeared at 7:21 behind i little mountain, 6 minutes after the time appeared in the prayer times."

    • Germany: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Martin Elsaesser said: "The old moon was a beautiful sight, some 30 hours before conjunction. Several people enjoyed the sight together at the end of a wonderfull night of observing the stars with various instruments."

    • UK: Not Seen / Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Qamar Uddin said: "On Wednesday 19 August 2009 morning (5:15 hrs BST) before sunrise I have tried to sight the waning (old) crescent moon of Shaban 1430 AH, but the Eastern horizon was totally cloudy and hence I was unable to sight it."


    By Moh'd Odeh. Copyright © 1998-2009 Islamic Crescents' Observation Project (ICOP), All Rights Reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission. For more information
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