International Astronomical Center (IAC)

Visibility of Thul Keadah Crescent
(1427 AH)

Last Updated 08 December 2006 In This Page:-

When to Observe Thul Keadah Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?
Thul Keadah Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results
The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries
When to Observe Shawwal (OLD) Crescent ?
Shawwal Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

When to Observe Thul Keadah Waxing (NEW) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Monday 20 November 2006) at 22:18 UT.

Sighting the new crescent on (Tuesday 21 November 2006) is shown in the below graph using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

It is impossible to see the crescent from the areas located under the red color. Because either the Moon on this day sets before the Sunset and/or the topocentric conjunction occurs after the Sunset.
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 sets in these locations after the Sunset and the topocentric conjunction occurs before the Sunset, 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.

Tuesday 21 November 2006

According to the actual sighting of the crescent, the start of Thul Keadah should be on Wednesday 22 November 2006 in most parts of the world.

- 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.

Thul Keadah Waxing (NEW) Crescent Observation Results

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Tuesday 21 November 2006 by ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm from Tucson, Arizona (USA).

Tuesday 21 November 2006:

Indonesia: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha MMC said: "Negative sighting from Yogyakarta, Indonesia for Zulqaidah 1427 Cescent. The western sky most cloudy with and a little rain in my observation place. Base on "Imkanurrukyat" Criterion, the first day of Zulqaidah 1427 Hejri is Wednesday, 22 November 2006."
Pakistan: ICOP member Mr. Shahid Iqbal said: "The moon was not seen here in Swabi, Pakistan despite use of binoculars on Tuesday, 21 November 2006. The moonset was 1 minute prior to moonset. The western horizon was partly cloudy. It is impossible to be seen even in Karachi and south west Baluchistan due to low altitude i.e below 1 degree. However, it can be easily seen with naked eye through out Asia including Pakistan on Wenesday, 22 November 2006. First of Ziqaad 1427 Hijri, threfore, falls in Pakistan on Thursday, 23 November 2006."
Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Tuesday 21 Nov 2006 I did not see the crescent. The sun disappeared behind cloud at 16:45 thats 6 minutes before our local sunset. The moon's lag today is also 6 minutes yet some people were searching honestly for a 6 minute lag moon."
Yemen: Mr. Saleh Belfakih mentioned that he didn't see the crescent, and he added it was partly cloudy.
Saudi Arabia: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab mentioned it was cloudy and Mr. Al-Saab added: "The altitude of the crescent was only ONE degree above the horizon, which make sighting very dificult even with a clear skies."
Algeria: ICOP member Mr. Houcine Ch-aissa said: "In institute Ami Said, one persone tried to observe Thul Keadah 1427 crescent. It was not seen neither by naked eyes nor by binoculars (06)."
Morocco: ICOP member Mr. Othman Fadli mentioned it was cloudy.
South Africa: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The Dhul Qada Hilaal was seen by naked eye from the sighting stations of Signal Hill and Stellenbosch this Tuesday evening, 21 November 2006 and the end of the 29th day of Shawwaal. The official first day of Dhul Qada in Southern Africa will correspond to Wednesday, 22 November 2006. Accurate Times was spot on. Thank you Muhammad."
Nigeria:
1. ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "The hilal of Dul Qadah is not visible here at Ilorin and Bauch (From Malam Dukku) due to dusty horizon."
2. ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "The moonsighting Society of Nigeria did not organise a sighting trip here in Bauchi due to poor visibility caused by harmattan."
UK: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti said: "Negative sighting. Four of us attempted the sighting at the end of the 29th day of Shawwal (Tuesday, 21 November 2006) at the usual site. The horizon is clear but there is no sighting. We received the report from Fez, Morocco of negative sightings there also despite clear skies. and the authority there declared that the month of Shawwal is to complete its 30 days. This news and the expectation that there will be positive sightings east to our longitute on Wednesday are sufficient for us to complete this month like Morocco and establish the new month [thubut al-hilal] of Dhu l-Qa'da in the UK to be on the day after tomorrow, Thursday, the 23rd of November."

USA:

ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh mentioned that he did not see the crscent and it was partly cloudy.
ICOP member, Mr. Elkarra Nasseam mentioned it was cloudy.
ICOP member Dr. John Caldwell said: "Perfect conditions, pointing, focus. Venus alongside as guide. 25 min. moonset lag. No crescent visible, a very useful negative."
ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Tuesday, 21st November, 2006 in Broward, Florida, USA. The Hilaal was not seen. The Hilaal was seen after sunset on Wednesday, 22nd November, 2006 in Okland Park, Florida, USA, at 5:45 PM."
ICOP member, Mr. Qaiser Imam said: "Hilal (crescent moon) was not sighted Tuesday night in Greater Austin in extremely clear sky and anywhere in the US and Canada by naked eye. Therefore, we will complete 30 days of Shawwal and 1st day of Dhul Qa'dah will be on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006. Hilal Committee of Greater Austin."

ICOP member, Mr. Jim Stamm said:

New Moon Crescent Observation Report
===============================
November 2006

Location     = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
   Longitude = 111° 06’ W
   Latitude  =  32° 13’ N
   Elevation = 961 meters
   Time Zone = -7.0 hours

Surface conditions at time of first sighting at
Tucson International Airport (805 m):
   Temperature          =   26 degrees Celcius
   Relative Humidity    =   16 percent
   Atmospheric Pressure = 1017 mb

Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
   Sunset (at sea level)  =  17:26
   Moonset (at sea level) =  17:50
   Time from new moon at   17:37   =  25 hr. 09 min.
   Moon lag time                   =  25     minutes
   Relative Altitude               =   4.49  degrees
   Elongation from sun             =  13.34  degrees
   Crescent width                  =  25     arcseconds
   Illumination                    =   1.36  percent

Crescent first observed through 8” SC telescope:
   Time      =   17:30
   Altitude  =   01.8 degrees

Final observation with telescope:
   Time      =   17:37
   Altitude  =   00.6 degrees

The image was too tenuous to measure the arc length precisely, 
but it  was about 60 degrees.

There were attempts to sight the crescent with binoculars before 
and  after sighting through the telescope, but the image was too 
feeble  for binoculars. 

Observer(s):
Jim Stamm
John Polacheck

Wednesday 22 November 2006:

Iran:
1. ICOP member Mr. Majid Marzani said "The crescent was seen by telescope, binoculars & naked eyes in Tehran (share ray)."
2. ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eyes.
  Location: Esfahan, Iran (32:37N 51:35E)
  Time Zone: +3.5
  Observer & photographer: Alireza Mehrani
  Time: 17:28 LT
  Moon Alt: 3.20d
  Elongation: 19.5d
  Width: 0.88m
  Arc Length: 135d (from 1.5 to 6)
  PS: The western horizon was cloudy and hazy.
Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Wednesday 22 Nov 2006 I sighted the crescent in the following order :
- First seen with binocular at 16:39
- Sun disc disappeared at 16:46 (5 minutes before our local sunset)
- Sunset at 16:51
- Diappeared behind dark cloud : unfortunatly did not register the time - Then seen directly with naked eyes below that cloud 17:23
- Last seen with naked eyes behind a horizon touching cloud : 17:28
- Last seen with bino 17:29 ( thats 18 minutes before moonset time )
- Moonset at 17:47 .
- The sky was very clear exept from low cloud above western horizon and little pollution from doha power station and haze at - The last 3 degrees above the horizon . "
Germany: ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned it was cloudy.
Nigeria: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "The moon was easily visible this evening here in Bauchi."
UK: ICOP member Mr. AbdurRashid Ayoubi said: "The sky was overcast. Negative sighting."

The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries

Wednesday 22 November 2006:

Indonesia
Yemen
UAE
Kuwait
Saudi
Jordan
Algeria
South Africa

Thursday 23 November 2006:

Pakistan
Iran
Morocco

When to Observe Shawwal Waning (OLD) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Monday 20 November 2006) at 22:18 UT.

Sighting the OLD crescent on (Monday 20 November 2006) is shown in the below graph 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 20 November 2006

Shawwal Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

Sunday 19 November 2006:

Iran: ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eyes.
Date: Sun Nov 19, 2006
Photographer: Alireza Mehrani
Location: Esfahan, Iran

Monday 20 November 2006:

Kuwait: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait at Kabad desert- far about 40 km from city - In the morning of Monday 20 nov 2006 I could not sight the crescent even with 20*60 binocular. The sky was very clear that I could see some meteors and seeing was very good that the stars did not twinkle to the last quarter from zenith. Only the eastern horizon upto 3~4 degrees was hazy. Actually I went to that place to observe the twilight, but I could not see the vertical twilight ( al fajer al katheb ) nor Mars and niether the crescent. I could confirm the astronomical twilight by visibility at 5:12 which is 19 minuts after the calculated twilight. So from this observing secession I conclude that to see with optical aid an 18h:29m age crescent with 34 minutes lag, 5:29 deg alt, 9:20 deg elong, 12 sec width, 0.67 % illum you need a perfect atmosphere conditions at the last 1 or 2 degrees above horizon which can be only available at altitudes of more than ~ 1000 meters or so or else the sighting would be improbable even with optical aid."

International Astronomical Center