The geocentric new Moon will occur on Tuesday 16 February 1999, at 06:39 UT. Thus, no need to observe the crescent before 16 February.

Tuesday 16 February

• Pakistan: ICOP member, Mr. Omer bin Abdul Aziz sent an E-mail on 17 February saying: "It was all cloudy at the evening of 16 February and partly cloudy today. Officially, the moon was NOT sighted yesterday. I read the newspaper today and it said 30th Shawwal. This means the next month in Pakistan begins from 18th of February 1999."

• Iraq: ICOP member, Mr. Tarek Katbeh tried to see the crescent by naked eyes, but he didn't see it.

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab, informed us that the sky was cloudy, and so he couldn't see the crescent.

• Jordan: ICOP and JAS members: Mohammad Odeh and Mohammad Alawneh tried to glimpse the crescent after sunset. Unfortunately, they couldn't see it due to thick haze over the western horizon.

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "The Crescent Observers Society (15 observers) gathered at their vantage points. The weather was cloudy overhead and partly cloudy horizons. No crescent was seen. The Muslim Judicial Council declared 1 Thu Al-Kea'dah 1419 AH to be on Thursday, 18 February 1999."

• Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "Due to cloudy weather I was unable to see the crescent."

Wednesday 17 February

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi said: "I saw the Thu Al-Kea'dah Crescent on the evening of 17 February. The Moon, Venus and Jupiter were on a line. But I had no telescope to check the moon on the previous day."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "The new crescent was seen by me on Wednesday, 17 February 1999 as from 19h44 until 20h30. The beauty of the clear night sky left me thanking of Allahu Ta'aala for his magnificent creation. The Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn were all in a straight line. I also watched the "setting" of Venus and Jupiter."

• Morocco: Dr. Hamid Touma of the National Research Centre (CNCPRST) said: "I would like inform you that in Morocco we have seen the Crescent on Wednesday 17th February 1999 on 6'Oclock past 20 mn PM (Universal Time) It was in the South West direction at altitude 12°. For this day the Moon rise was at 7h 59mn AM, and the transit at 1h56mn PM, while the Moon set was at 19h40mn. It was near Jupiter and Venus planet, like calculated in theory. On the 20 February 99 the Moon will be close to the Saturn planet."

Thursday 18 February

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Alabi Isiaq said: "It rained on Tuesday (16/02) and Wednesday (17/02) during the evening. The sky was clearer today (18/02)." And he mentioned that he saw it by naked eyes on Thursday (18 February).

Tuesday 16 February:-

1. Yemen

Wednesday 17 February:-

1. India
2. Jordan
3. Palestine
4. Egypt

Thursday 18 February:-

1. Pakistan
2. South Africa

Dear Brother M. Odeh,

Assalamu Alykom wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh...

Dar El- Iftaa' in Egypt announced that Tuesday 16 February 1999 is the complementary day of Shawwal month of 1419 H.

Accordingly, Wednesday 17 February 1999 is the beginning of Thul-Kea'dah month of 1419 H.

This agrees with the astronomical calculations which gives that the birth moment of the new crescent is 6:39 A.M. in UT on Tuesday 16 February 1999. So, it is impossible to say that Tuesday 16 February 1999 is the beginning of Thul-Kea'dah month. Finally, thank you for sending to me. Congratulations for a new month. Wa Assalamu Alykom wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh...

Sincerely yours
Yasser Abdelhadi
NRIAG
(Helwan Observatory)
Cairo, Egypt