Dubai United Arab Emirates (CNN)— The 18th day of Ramadan 2024 entered, Thursday, with a number of theories circulating about astronomical calculations of the time and date on which the crescent of Eid al-Fitr can be seen.
The International Astronomy Center explained in a statement, a copy of which reached CNN Arabic: “As for the countries that will observe the crescent on Monday, April 8, seeing it on that day is impossible because the moon sets before the sun and the conjunction occurs after sunset. Therefore, these countries will complete the month of Ramadan with thirty days, so that Wednesday, April 10, will be the happy Eid al-Fitr in them.
Credit: astronomycenter
He continued: “As for the countries that will observe the crescent on Tuesday, April 9, seeing the crescent on that day is possible using a telescope from the east of the world and from South Africa, and it is possible with the naked eye with difficulty from Central Asia and the center of the African continent, and seeing the crescent is possible with the naked eye relatively easily from West Asia, North Africa, most of Europe and most of the two American continents. Accordingly, it is expected that most of these countries will announce the sighting of the crescent on that day, so that Wednesday, April 10, will be Eid al-Fitr in them as well. It is not unlikely that both India and Bangladesh will announce that the sighting of the crescent on Tuesday has not been confirmed, so that Thursday, April 11 is Eid al-Fitr.
He added: “With regard to the position of the crescent on Tuesday, April 9 in some Arab and Islamic cities, the surface calculations of the crescent at sunset are as follows: In Jakarta, the moon sets 29 minutes after sunset, and its age is 16 hours and 58 minutes, and viewing is possible using a telescope. In Abu Dhabi The moon sets 51 minutes after sunset, and is 19 hours and 35 minutes old. In Riyadh, the moon sets 53 minutes after sunset, and is 20 hours old. In Amman and Jerusalem, the moon sets 60 minutes after sunset, and is 20 hours and 38 minutes old. In Cairo The moon sets 59 minutes after sunset, and its age is 20 hours and 47 minutes. In Rabat, the moon sets 69 minutes after sunset, and its age is 22 hours and 57 minutes. Visibility in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Amman, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Rabat is possible with the naked eye if the atmosphere is clear.
The International Astronomy Center published two maps of the moon’s path and the areas where it can be seen, saying in its report the following:
– Seeing the crescent is impossible from the areas in red because the moon sets before sunset or/and because surface conjunction occurs after sunset..
– Seeing the crescent moon is possible using a telescope only from areas located in blue.
It is possible to see the crescent moon using a telescope from the areas located in pink, and it is possible to see the crescent moon with the naked eye if the atmosphere is completely clear and observed by an experienced observer..
It is possible to see the crescent moon with the naked eye from areas in green.
It is not possible to see the crescent with the naked eye or with a telescope from non-colored areas, despite the moon setting after sunset and the surface conjunction occurring before sunset, due to the lack of illumination of the crescent and/or due to its proximity to the horizon..
Please note that the figures show the possibility of seeing the crescent in the areas located between latitudes 60 north and 60 south.
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