A New World Record for Lunar Crescent Sighting
By Mr. Mohsen G. Mirsaeed
As we have already informed you, different groups in Iran, with very sophisticated equipment, tried to sight the lunar crescent on September 7, 2002,( Jamadi-al Thani 29,1423, A.H., according to the Islamic lunar calendar in Iran ), but only one group managed to sight it and the other groups faced unfavorable atmospheric conditions. With this sighting we have achieved a new world record of which we have the full report including the related table and photos. This report is a little late in reaching to your hands because of two following reasons:
- For confirmation in Iranian research centers and organizations.
- We waited for the Ramadan lunar crescent sighting, which in turn could make modifications in the international Criteria for lunar crescent sighting .
A copy of this report is sent to Professor Sinnott and ProfessorYallop, from (SAAO) South Africa Astronomical Observatory and Mr. James Stamm and (ICOP) Islamic Crescent Observation Project, respectively.
A New World Record for Lunar Crescent Sighting.
11 Hours 42 Minutes
We were in an arid region located on the north west heights (2,110 meters ) of Zarand in Rashk Bala village, (31°, 04' N , 56°, 28' E), 105 Kilometer north west city of Kerman (the most important city in south east of Iran).Then we settled with a few strong and powerful optic instruments such as one Newtonian 8- inch telescope, Vixen model, 30 mm wide eyed, two huge binoculars (20 x120) Reek model and a very giant binocular (40 x150), all fixed towards western horizon to hunt a very rare slender lunar crescent, and we were ready to start lunar crescent sighting after sunset.
We had already done our best efforts to sight the new moon crescent on December 22,1995.However, all the conditions of sighting were excellent and the western horizon was clear but because of not having powerful binoculars (20 x 60), (12 x 45), we couldn't sight that rare crescent. Since then we decided to use extra powerful instruments in future.
Based on our previous calculations, we were sure that sighting this lunar crescent in most part of Iran, such as eastern ,central, southern and southeastern regions,would break the world record of sighting the new young lunar crescent. We studied all the world records and knew that Mr. James Stamm had the best record in the world so far .He had succeeded to sight a new lunar crescent with,angular separation of 7°.39' (topocnetric), 12hours,7minutes young, through 8-inch telescope.( Celestrone brand) in Tucson Arizona USA,on January 20,1996,at 5:57p.m.local time.Regarding Mr Stamm's record,minutes after his sighing, two other amateurs sighted the same lunar crescent: One of them Mr Pierre Schwaar,12 hours 33 minutes through Newtonian 10-inch telescope and the other,Mr Dana Patchick in Mount Wilson of USA,12 hours 51 minutes through binoculars 11x 80 (Sky & Telescope) .
These two reports also helped Mr Stamm's record to be more confirmed in comparison to any other reports. Sighting the new young lunar crescent at the beginning of the Islamic lunar month is an interesting endeavor near Muslims. First visibility of the new lunar crescent marks the beginning of the new lunar month. In the same manner, sighting the new lunar crescent at the beginning of Ramadan, fasting and sacred month in the Islamic Calendar is of critical importance as well, as sighting the new young lunar crescent at the beginning of Shawwal which marks the greatest religious feast for Muslims.
Again, sighting new lunar crescent at the beginning of Zul-Hijja marks the start of pilgrimage by millions of Muslims In Mecca, Saudi Arabia. All these important religious events in Islamic Lunar Calendar are determined based on sighting the new lunar crescent at the beginning of related lunar months, which makes the moon sighting, to become an important endeavor in the history of Islam of . I personally have been sighting the new moon carefully at the end of old or beginning of the new lunar months, for 11 years. I have achieved a couple of records compared to documented world records, however, I was not familiar to forward them to you in order to be confirmed and published formally. I am enclosing a table for lunar visibilities in the past 8 years, at the end of this report.
At present, the record of new lunar crescent sighting belongs to Mr. Steven N. Shore .He has sighted new young lunar crescent by his naked eyes on May 5,1989, at 7:37 p.m. local time. However the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) has not confirmed his report yet. We were ready to set a new world record on September 7, 2002,.We have been programming to accomplish this purpose from a long time ago. A government al institution (Iran Center for the Strategic Research and Studies ) decided to assign several lunar observer groups, all with modern equipment & tools needed for lunar observation in different parts of Iran,on September 7, 2002, in order to ensure the real sighting of the lunar crescent at the begining of new lunar months.
- First group equipped with three sets of powerful binoculars among other tools and equipment,to eastern parts of Iran.
- Second group equipped with all observatory instruments,to south eastern region of Iran.
- Third group equipped with complicated observatory equipment,to central part of Iran.
- Fourth group equipped with complicated observatory equipment, to southern part of Iran,Fars province.
It is worth mentioning, about thirty other private amateur groups interested in observing the lunar crescent, have set out to different and various parts of Iran based, on their own will We belonged to second group on a mission to southeastern part of Iran, Kerman province. Our group consisted of thirteen colleagues. Seven Participants of this group had come from Kerman, and were very familiar with roads and the situation of heights and villages in Kerman Province.
I personally moved to Kerman on September 1, 2002 (6 days prior to the new moon date), in order to determine the best place suited for the observation and settling the site. Based on gathered information about heights of Kerman province we came out with 5 selected places asunder:
- Jibal Barez region (Mohammad Abad), 167 kilometers to the southeast of Kerman
- Baghabar region, 90 kilometer from Kerman, at 2640 m altitude.
- Bid kheiry region, 108 kilometer southwest of Kerman, at ,2600 m altitude.
- Bibi Hayat region, 50 kilometer northwest of Kerman, at 2150 m altitude.
- Rashk Bala region (village) located in Zarand province, 105 kilometer north west of Kerman ,at 2110 m altitude.
We were sure we could sight the new young lunar crescent, on September 7, 2002 to achieve, a new record of age of the new moon ever sighted. Therefore, we were calmly and conveniently continued our studying to get information about different places and carefully compared all data with each other. We wanted to choose a place helping us the best to break the records of sighting new lunar crescent regarding the age of the moon and the degree of separation moon from the sun. We are aware of Mr. Andre Dunjon's viewpoint of that no illuminated portion of the moon arc could be seen when its separation is less than 7degrees. Fortunately calculations showed us that on September 7,2002, the ecliptic latitude of the moon was in its best position and also on September 8, 2002,at 3 hourUT, the moon would be in its perigee; and this made us hoping to achieve a new record.
Among factors we studied in order to compare them to decide the best place for our ultimate site, was accessibility of places to road connections. Fortunately, after careful examination of details we learned that all 5 places were accessible to main roads and transportation network in Kerman province and we could easily transport our equipment to the mountain top or nearby. Other factors which affected our decision making to choose the best place were geographic, atmospheric, possibilities of horizontal visibilities and weather conditions of 5 places which had to be considered and compared. On September 5,2002,we sighted old lunar crescent, At 13 hours, 22minutes (local time,) 24°, 50' elongation from the sun, by naked eyes in a very clear atmospheric condition, in Kerman. It should be mentioned that at that time the altitude of the moon from the horizon was 45°,49' (topcentric). We were very happy to see the situation like that and predicted that there would be no problem on September 7, 2002.However,in the afternoon of September 5, 2002, the weather changed to cloudy condition which worried us too much. We contacted repeatedly that day with meteorological administration to obtain meteorological data. We had been informed apparently that a front air with low-pressure covered Saudi Arabia sky passing through Iran atmosphere. Confronting a high-pressure weather covered northern part of Iran; the result was some climatical changes in central and southeastern regions of Iran. On September 6, 2002,at dawn, I was ready to sight morning lunar crescent. I was aware that there was no need to any binocular to sight this old lunar crescent, since the elongation of the moon from the sun was 15°, 14' at the time of the rising of lunar crescent, as well as 2% Illumination (phase of the moon). It is worth mentioning that presuming the negative old age of the moon of 26h 31m.this would be an advantage for observers of the moon arc in the western hemisphere especially for western part of USA. Calculations showed us an observer could succeed to sight the old lunar crescent aged about 15 hours before the conjunction of the moon with the sun to reach a record at the dawn sighting . However, later I was informed that Mr. James Stamm has tried to sight that morning old lunar crescent but unfortunately he could not make it.
At last, on September 7,2002,we called on meteorological administration and requested them to advise us just on the visibility factor. They suggested us that "Rashk Bala"village located in Zarand province is a good location. Our group moved to Zarand province and we had lunch in Zarand.We waited to receive our optical equipment and other instruments. Our group with the equipment started our journey to Rashk Bala, which lasted about 2 hours. We all settled in a point on western horizon before sunset. Western horizon was an open viewed one and the altitude of any obstruction in the western horizon was less than 0.5°. Some atmospheric dust was seen in the horizon, which could not make us to worry. We started setting binoculars & telescope.Our binoculars were equipped with altimeter& goniometer.since we had not known where we would ultimately set up our site since we could not actually use our telescope which was not a polar type. We relied too much on our 40X150 binoculars. We knew its possilities.Based on the computerized computations of local coordinates of the sun & the moon which had been prepared before and we were ready to start. We have observed the sun through special sun filter and set our binoculars. It should be added that this setting of binoculars was continually done each 15 minutes till the sunset. In order to decrease the percentage of error of our activities. At t he sun set at 18 hours 00minute 33 second, we noticed some clouds appeared in the western horizon, however, its altitude from horizon hardly reached to 1 degree.I positioned myself behind 40x150 binoculars while Mr. Sayyad, my colleague who works in Geophysics Institute of Tehran University as a researcher,having experiences in computing and sighting lunar crescents for 21 years,was setting the azimuth and altitude of binoculars based on computerized data for each 2 minutes.Two colleagues of our group were sighting the western horizon in the same manner just as I explained,with two 20x120 binoculars,working with two co-assistants. Also two other colleagues of our group were trying to sight through telescope.after sunset, all binoculars were aligned toward the direction where the lunar crescent might be sighted.In order to eliminate excess day light which could bother my eyes and preventing me from clear sighting, I covered my head under a blanket. I noticed a celestial body just where the lunar crescent might be at 18 hours 17 minutes after the sunset .I could hardly notice the lunar crescent. Since I am used to sight three times by opening and closing my eyes to be sure about my sighting , this time I could not repeat my first sighting in second opening of my eyes,so I invited one of my colleagues to come behind my binoculars.He left binoculars without success.I continued sighting in the same manner I described earlier.At 18 hours 20 minutes I sighted clearly the slender lunar crescent ,however, the atmospheric dust did not permit me to sight her constantly.Again at 18 hours 21 minutes I sighted the lunar crescent of the moon, this time my visibility became clear. Sometime the laminated arc of the moon was sighted very clear and sometime the wind brought the atmospheric dust to my vision and the lunar crescent became faint.I followed this lunar crescent for one minute.This lunar crescent became hidden under a layer of cloud, which was in the horizon,then it was disappeared for goodness,at 18 hours 22 minutes.Without any delay,we measured the altitude of obstructions in the horizon which was 1° 36'.Then I separated from my group to have some privacy.I felt sad and I was at the same time happy in my heart.My sadness rooted in not sighting the lunar crescent by my colleagues and my hearted happiness was about my success in sighting the special lunar crescent. I have to add that I am working as an amateur in sighting for eleven years and I have enough experience to be able to distinguish lunar crescent from smog ,dust ,cloud, illumination ,airplane or any other celestial body in the sky.I have sighted about 213 new and or old moon after and before the sun and the moon conjunction time. Generally, I have been successful in 73% of tries to sight lunar crescent during past years. The reason for my negligence in sending my reports to international scientific authorities is mere lack of communication with these scientific centers from my side.
Moon sighting has been my favorable and lovely hobby in my life. I sight the moon every day and note down the changes of the moon for each day of lunar month. I would dare to say that I love the moon. I will give you some report which I have obtained in Iran during my sighting in the past8 years.
New lunar crescent sighting on January 31, 1995, 15hours 40 minutes age, through 12x45 binocular, (35°, 44' N) &(51°, 17 'E). As you are well aware if we calculate the age of the moon before new, on January 30, 1995, and add it to the age of the new lunar crescent at the time of the first visibility, then we come up with 35 hours 20 minutes, which so far that I have studied, the world record for the moon sighting issued by "SAAO", up to end of 2000,have noticed no such record. (i.e.35 hours 20 minutes).
The lunar crescent sighting at dawn (before conjunction of the moon and the sun), on October 16, 2001, (52°, 15' E) & (35°, 39' N), age 17 hours 10 minutes before new , by naked eyes. It should be mentioned this sighting has been filmed with usual handy camera. So far that I have studied the list of sighting records issued by "SAAO", there is no such record booked.i.e.a record of sighting dawn lunar crescent, age 17 hours 10 minutes, by naked eyes. The lunar crescent sighting at dawn, on August 8,2002, (35°, 44' N) &(51°,17' E), 17 hours 40 minutes age through 12x45 binoculars. I have filmed this crescent with my handy camera, in a special way of filming. For the reason of the weather condition in the east horizon, not being suitable to film and existing some clouds in the sky, I set the camera on negative position, then the foreground became white clear and the crescent black. It should be mentioned one of the Iranian moon observer in Isfahan has sighted this moon, age 17 hours 37 minutes through 12x70 binoculars and have filmed it. I will send you my sighting results in the recent years which some of them are records in this area as I have listed in Table 2.
Observer and reporter: Mohsen Ghazi Mirsaeed
September 7, 2002.
Location- Rashk bala- Zarand- Kerman- Iran
Longitude = (56°,28' E)
Latitude = (31°, 04' N)
Elevation = 2,110 meters
Temperature = ~ 29 degrees ( C )
Relative Humidity = 15 percent
Atmospheric pressure = 780
Wind speed = 28 km/hr
New moon: 3h 10m 05s (UT)
Local sunset 18 h 00m 36s September 7, 2002
UT Time and Date of sunset 14h 30m 36s
Local moonset 18h 34m 00s September 7,2002
UT Time and Date of Moonset 15h 04m 00s
Binoculars = 40 x 150
Email: mohsenmirsaeed@yahoo.com
| At the moment of first visibility: | Stamm’s record | Recent record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degree | Minutes | Degree | Minutes | |
| Difference between moon and sun longitudes | 7 | 10 | 6 | 53 |
| Moon latitude | 4 | 48 | 4 | 57 |
| Moon angular separation from Sun (geocentric) | 8 | 38 | 8 | 29 |
| Moon angular separation from Sun (topocentric) | 7 | 39 | 7 | 32 |
| Angular thickness of the moon crescent | 11.4'' | 11.1'' | ||
| Illuminated fraction of the moon | 0.569% | 0.554% | ||
| Altitude of the sun | -3 | 2 | -5 | 22 |
| Altitude of the moon | 5 | 23 | 2 | 39 |
| Corrected altitude of the moon by parallax | 4 | 22 | 1 | 38 |
| Difference between moon and sun azimuths | 1 | 55 | -2 | 46 |
| Moon distance from the earth | 358418 Km | 359008 km | ||
| At sunset | Stamm’s record | Recent record | ||
| Moon altitude (geocentric ) | 7 | 30 | 7 | 6 |
| Moon altitude (topocentric) | 6 | 30 | 6 | 5 |
| Difference between moon and sun azimuths | 1 | 50 | -2 | 30 |
| Time lag between moonset and sunset | 38 min | 33 min | ||
| Moon age at sun set | 0d 11h 55m | 0h 11h 20m | ||
| Moon age at the moment of first visibility | 0d 12h 07m | 0h 11h 42m | ||
| Date | January 21,1996 | September 7,2002 | ||
