International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent -after sunset- was on Thursday 30 October 2008 by ICOP Member Mr. Mutoha Arkanuddin from Indonesia, the crescent was also seen on this day from Bangladesh, Iran, Kuwait, UAE, Algeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Nigeria and USA.

Wednesday 29 October 2008:

• Pakistan: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Sultan Alam said: "It was certain that the crescent would not be sighted anywhere in Pakistan tonight i.e. on Wednesday, 29 October 2008, because in the costal areas the moonset was with the sunset while in the other areas it was before the sunset. In spite of this fact, to increase the trust of common people upon the Science of Moon-sighting and because the people are confused due to the strange lunar dates in Saudi Arab, I requested many members of the personal moon-sighting committees of our institute "JAMIA-TUR-RASHEED" and many of my friends (most of them are Ulama and scholars) all over Pakistan to sight the moon but the moon could not be sighted, as it was expected tonight. They tried to sight the moon at the following 20 places allover Pakistan: Karachi (at 10 places), Lahore (2 places), Abbotabad, Alipur (Muzaffar Garh), Texala, Shorkot (Jhang), Hyderabad, Battal, Kohat, and Jhang. Note: Chairman of central official moon sighting committee of Pakistan "Mufti Munee-bur-Rahman" told me on my personal mobile phone that because he did not receive any positive report of moon sighting from all over Pakistan, therefore he has officially announced that Thursday 30 October 2008 is the 30th Shawwal and 1st Zul-Qa’dah 1429 will fall on Friday 31 October 2008 in Pakistan."

• Saudi: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab mentioned that the crescent was not seen even by binocular, and the western horizon was partly cloudy, but clear at the crescent location.

• Senegal: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ibrahima Thierno Lo said: "Seeing the crescent by naked eyes was tried, but it was not seen." Mr. Lo mentioned that the sky was hazy.

• Nigeria:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Imam Majolagbe Monsuru said: "I and some brothers began crescent sighting from 6:30pm but our effort proves abortive till 7:25pm when it began to rain."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Five of us attempted sighting the crescent here in Bauchi but we did not see it. The sky was clear from about 4 degrees above the horizon, below 4 degrees it was a little hazy."

• South Africa: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The Hilaal was not seen this Wednesday evening, 29 October 2008. The month of Shawwaal will be extended to a 30 day month. The official 1st day of Dhul Qada will correspond with Friday, 31 October 2008. Excellent field of vision from my sighting station at the Green Point lighthouse in Cape Town. The crescent was not visible even with optical aid (binoculars and telescope)."

• UK:
  1. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Qamar Uddin from London said: "On Wednesday 29 October 2008, corresponding to 29 Shawwal 1429 AH, I and a scientist colleague of mine have tried to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) from York after the Magrib (sunset) prayer to practice upon the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S). The sky was overcast with patchy-clouds on the left side of the sunset position and so it was not possible to sight the Hilal by the naked eye or binoculars (Bessel 10x50). Many people in other parts of UK have also attempted to sight the Hilal, but they could not do so either. Furthermore, we have been unable obtain any reliable Hilal sighting news from any countries in the east of UK either (as per the criteria adopted in UK). Therefore, the Ulama (including Wifaq and Batley) have decided that tomorrow, Thursday 30 October 2008 shall be 30 Shawwal 1429 AH in UK and 1 Zul-Qaidah 1429 AH will be on Friday, 31 October 2008 (completing 30 days of the month), Insha-Allah. Qamar Uddin, York (UK). Dated: 29 October 2008, 19:30 GMT hrs."

  2. Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti from Oxford, UK said: "Negative sighting. The two of us attempted to perform the sighting tonight for the Dhu l-Qa'da crescent in Oxford on 29 Shawwal, Wednesday 29 October, immediately after Maghrib prayers at the usual site. The local horizon is cloudy and the new crescent could not be sighted. By 'Isha time there were no reports of any credible sighting east of our location; rather, we received news of negative sightings in Morocco, South Africa, and Indonesia. Therefore, we should be completing 30 days [istikmal] for Shawwal, so that the first day of Dhu l-Qa'da should fall in the UK on Friday 31 October (beginning from Maghrib, 30 October)."

  3. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Sulayman Gani said: "Sighting of the hilal after Maghrib salaat was attempted here in Tooting, South London but was not seen. The Western Horizon was totally cloudy. The moon set 25 minutes before sunset"

• USA:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Blacksburg, VA) said: "This evening (Wednesday, October 29, 2008), using a pair of 7X50 binoculars, I tried sighting the crescent moon from 6:33 till 6:47 in Blacksburg, VA, with no success. The horizon was clear with a little haze. Although I was a few minutes late (the local sunset was at 6:26 and moonset at 6:30), there was no chance sighting the moon in the bright horizon. I could not see Mars either."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said:
     

     Location     = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
        Longitude = 110.9357 W
        Latitude  =  32.4254 N
        Elevation =  836 meters
        Time Zone = -7.0 hours
     
     Surface conditions at Tucson International Airport (805 m):
        Temperature          =   61 degrees F.
        Relative Humidity    =   31 percent
        Sea Level Pressure   =   30.16 in.
        Haze was obvious near the horizon, but otherwise,
        conditions were superb.
     
     Topocentric and local time values from “Accurate Times”:
        Sunset  (at sea level)  =  17:41
        Moonset (at sea level)  =  17:54
        Time from new moon at   17:47   =  24 hr. 23 min.
        Moon lag time                   =         13 min.
        Relative Altitude               =    2.6  degrees
        Elongation from sun             =   12.7  degrees
        Crescent width                  =     22  arc seconds
        Illumination                    =   1.24  percent
     
     I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope.
     
     Observer:          Jim Stamm 
     

  3. Trinidad and Tobago: Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Ali Abdurrahman mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eye, and the sky was partly cloudy. Mr. Abdurrahman added: "Since the crescent was not seen on Wednesday 29th october, the month of Shawwal will complete 30 days and the new month of Zul Qadah will begin on Friday 31st October 2008."

Thursday 30 October 2008:

• Indonesia: Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha Arkanuddin said: "Today is the second day of observation, we tried sight the crescent of Thulkaedah 1429 AH from the viewing minaret Parangtritis Beach Yogyakarta. According to the calculation at location; sunset 17:34 LT, moonset 18:38 LT, altitude moon at sunset 13.5 deg, elongation 16.5 deg. However, the official fistday of Thulkaedah 1429 AH in Indonesia held on Thursday, 30 October 2008 by calculation (moon altitude > 2 deg)." Mr. Arkanuddin mentioned that they were able to see the crescent by naked eye.

• Bangladesh:Seen: ICOP memeber Mr. ABM Hassan said: "Very thin moon has been sighted in the south-east part of the country on 30th October, Thursday. The sky was very clear and the moon is seen within last 10 minutes of its setting."

• Pakistan:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Sultan Alam said: "They tried to sight the moon on Thursday, 30 October 2008 at 23 places all over Pakistan. They are: Karachi (10 places, little hazy), Lahore (2 places, partially cloudy), Alipur (Muzaffar Garh, clear), Texila (Little hazy), Hyderabad (clear), Battal (Partially cloudy). Jhang (5 places, clear), Charsaddah (Partially cloudy), Tando Allah yar (Little hazy)"

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Tahir Gul Hasan said: "The crescent's low altitude and haze prevented me from seeing it." Mr. Hasan mentioned that he was obsering the crescent by binocular.

• Iran:
  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram mentioned that the crescent was seen by 20X110 binocular, and the sky was partly cloudy.

  2. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hossein Janghorbani said:
     We saw the new moon crescent on Thursday Oct. 30th .2008(09/08/1387 according to Iran calendar), in a region located in the east of Shahreza with these geographic coordinates:
     Lat: 32° N
     Lon: 51° 52' E
     Ele: 1825 m

     Our equipments:
     

     • 3 binoculars 15×70
     • 3 binoculars 7×42
     • 4 binoculars 7×35
     • 1 binocular 7×50
     • one compass

     The first observation was at 17:05 (few minutes before the sunset) by Ali Janghorbani with binocular 15 × 70 and after him the rest of group could see this crescent even with binocular 7×35 and then at 17:23 Reza Janghorbani and Parisa Naderi and some others could see it with naked eye until 17:35 that the cloud covers the crescent.
     

     Observation with binoculars:
     The first observation parameters:
     By: Ali Janghorbani
     Through: 15x70 binoculars
     Time: 17:05
     Moon Alt: 7.021
     Azimuth difference of moon and sun: -17.323
     Elongation: 18.256
     Moon phase: 2.61%
     

     Observation to the naked eye:
     By: Reza Janghorbani & Parisa Naderi
     Time: 17:23
     Moon Alt: 3.979
     Azimuth difference of moon and sun: -17.188
     Elongation: 18.355
     Moon phase: 2.65%
     Population of our group: 22 persons
     

     
     

• UAE: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Odeh said: "I went to observe the crescent with my wife and daughter from the sea shore in Abu-Dhabi, we arrived at sunset around 17:45 LT, the atmospheric conditions were clear (relative to the usual conditions in Abu-Dhabi), but generally speaking it was a little bit hazy with light patches of clouds. Around 17:50 I was able to see the crescent by 7X50 binocular, and at 18:00 I shouted saying that I saw the crescent by naked eye while exactly at the same time my wife shouted that she was able to see it by binocular :-)! It took her about another five minutes until she could see it by naked eye. I'd say that crescent visibility was difficult by naked eye."
  
  

• Kuwait: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait at Kabad desert 33 km south west of Kuwait city on Thursday 30 Oct 2008 I could see the crescent only with 20*60 and 10*50 binocular, the events went as follow: local sunst at 17:05 (the upper limb of the sun seen till last second, i,e we have clear sky ), first seen with 20*60 bino at 17:12 thats 7 minutes after sunset, then seen with 10*50 bino at 17:17, last seen with bino at 17:22,moonset was at 17:45 i,e the crescent disappeared from view of the binocular 23 minutes before its setting. The western horizon was clear with haze 3~4 degrees above horizon."

• Bahrain: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. A.Hameed Ali Haji said: "I've tried to observed the new crescent of Thul Keadah with Walialaser group, but the sky was cloudy and the western Horizon was totally cloudy."

• Algeria: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "The Dulkida 1429 crescent was seen from Merkiche station in 30/10/2008. Two (02) persents was seen the crescent using a 20x60 binocular at 18:04. At 18:29 it was invisible because of haze near the western horizon. In other station in Ghardaïa it was seen by naked eyes."
  
  

• Sudan: Seen: ICOP member Ms. Sara Mohamed said: "It was easly seen after few minutes from sunset."

• Nigeria:
  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. AbdulRasaq Ishola Ikorodu said: "Alhamudu lilahi I and my Colleque sighted the DhulQidah Crescent today in Ikorodu 30th October 2008 with our naked eyes after We prayed Magrib around 7:07: but after for 10 mins I was unable to photograh it but I called the brothers to sight it too. Alhamudu lilahi Friday 31st of oct is the first of Qhulqidah based on astronomical and Sheria."

  2. Seen: ICOP member Imam Majolagbe Monsuru said: "The weather was partially cloudy but we were able to sight the crescent then was covered by cloud after 7 minutes."

  3. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "New Hilal of Dhul Qadaah was sigthed on the evening of Thursday here at Mangoro, Agege, Lagos, Umu Aisha was among the people that witness it with me."

  4. Seen: ICOP member Dr. Sani Mustapha mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eye.

  5. Seen: ICOP member Mr. AbdulRasaq Abdul-Azeez said: "I and my Jamaat and friens sighted the crescent of Dhulqidah on 30 -10-2008 Ikorodu -Lagos after we prayed magrib with our naked eyes Allah bear me witness on this. Happy Dhulqidah month to all Muslims."

  6. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "Four of us attended the sighting trip, here in Bauchi, and we all saw the moon. It was first seen at 1804, that is just after sunset, and we continued to watch it until 1845 when in disappeared, at about 3 degrees above the horizon, due to atmospheric extinction."

• Tanzania: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hamza Rijal said: "I wish to inform you that in tiny island of Zanzibar we have completed 30 days for the month of Dhulqaada and today 31st of October is the first day of the month of Dhul Qaada." Mr. Rijal mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eye.

• UK: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Qamar Uddin from London said: "On Thursday 30 October 2008, corresponding to 30 Shawwal 1429 AH, I and a scientist colleague of mine have tried again to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) from York after the Magrib (sunset) out of scientific interests. The western sky was overcast with patchy-clouds so it was not possible to sight the Hilal by the naked eye or binoculars (Bessel 10x50). As reported previously, 1 Zul-Qaidah 1429 AH will be on Friday, 31 October 2008 (completing 30 days of the month), Insha-Allah. Qamar Uddin, York (UK). Dated: 30 October 2008, 19:00 hrs GMT."

• USA: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Blacksburg, VA) said: "This evening (Thursday, October 30, 2008), using a pair of 7X50 binoculars, I sighted the crescent moon in Blacksburg, VA. The first sighting was at 6:25 with the binoculars and immediately after with naked eye (apparent sunset: 6:24). The horns were approximately on 1:30 and 6:00 O'Clock. The horizon was a little hazy and thus I could not see Mars."

Thursday 30 October 2008:

1. Indonesia
2. Saudi
3. UAE
4. Kuwait
5. Bahrian
6. Qatar
7. Jordan
8. Egypt

Friday 31 October 2008:

1. Bangladesh
2. Pakistan
3. Iran
4. Oman
5. Morocco
6. Senegal
7. South Africa
8. Tanzania
9. Trinidad and Tobago