International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Friday 19 January 2007 by ICOP member Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo from (Long Beach, CA, USA), the crescent was also seen on this day from (San Jose, CA, USA) and (Tucson, AZ, USA).

Friday 19 January 2007:

• Australia: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Afroz Ali said: "The crescent was NOT sighted in Australia on 19th January, therefore the 1st day of Muharram commences on 21st January 2007."

• Indonesia: Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha MMC said: "I've tried to observed the crescent ( maybe the Comet Mcnaught too ) from the top of building in my place in Jogja, Indonesia. The Western sky was cloudy but the sunset was seen, however the crescent was not seen. Today's the sunset @ 18:04 LT, moon alt 3,15° and moonset @ 18:22 LT. Btw, all of civil calendars determining that the first day of Muharram 1428 Hejri is on Saturday, 20 January 2007. Happy Islamic New Year for you. Regard."

• Yemen: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Belfakih mentioned that he didn't see the crescent by naked eyes, and it was hazy and partly cloudy.

• Kuwait: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Friday 19 JAN 2007 I could not sight the crescent even with 20*60 binocular. The western horizon was clear exept the last 2 degrees of natural haze and Doha power station pollution. Venus was seen easily before sunset. Also I could not see the old crescent on the morninig of Thursday 18 Jan 2007."

• Algeria:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "Twelve (12) persons have tried to observe the Muharam crescent, from Merkiche station, with naked eyes and six binoculars. We have used Venus and Mercury (difficultly) to situate the new crescent position but it wasn't seen. Happy new year for all ICOP members and Muslims."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Houcine Ch-aissa said: "In institute Ami Said, one persone tried to observe the Muharam crescent. It was not seen neither by naked eyes nor by binoculars (06). Happy Islamic New Year for all Muslims."

• Nigeria: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "The Hilal of Muharam 1427 is not visible here at Lagos. As the time of filling in this report I could not ascertain the authority position on the first day of Muharam."

• South Africa: Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The crescent was not sighted this Friday [19/01/2007] evening in Southern Africa. The 1st Muharrum 1428 AH will correspond to Sunday, 21 January 2007 as Dhul Hijjah will be of a 30-day duration. A prosperous and blessed new year to all Muslims."

• UK: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti from Oxford said: "Negative sighting. Moonsighting was attempted at the end of the 29th day of Dhu l-Hijja (Friday, 19 January 2006). Unfortunately, the horizon was overcast. We received the report from Fez, Morocco of negative sightings there despite clear skies and the authority there declared that the month of Dhu l-Hijja is to complete its 30 days. This news and the expectation that there will be no positive sightings east to our longitute on Friday are sufficient for us to complete this month like Morocco and Awwal Muharram in the UK to be on the day after tomorrow, Sunday, the 21st of January."

• USA:

  1. Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo from (Long Beach, CA) said: "Sighted the crescent for the month of Muharram today Jan 19th, 2007 local time 5:36pm in Long Beach CA. The top horn was almost to 1:00 o'clock and bottom horn was almost to 8:00 o'clock. It was very thin on the left side of the sunset. Weather condition were as follows:
     Time: 5:36pm
     Condition: Clear 55 Deg. F
     Humidity: 64%
     Wind: From S. 4mph
     

  2. Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Christiansburg, VA) said: "The western horizon was partly cloudy with some haze present."

  3. Seen: Dr. Youssef Ismail from (San Jose, CA) said: "This evening I have the good fortune, Al Hamdu Lillah, of reporting that the new crescent of Muharram was seen by the naked eye near Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (37 degs 19 min N lat. 122 degs 12 ins W long.). It was seen at approximately 6:01 pm at an azimuth of 237 degrees Magnetic and with an altitude of about 1 finger above a clear horizon. Clouds were higher up in the sky and prevented the moon from being seen prior to this time. Its upper limb was at about 1 o'clock and the lower limb at about 6 o'clock. Sorry I did not have time to set up the camera and get a photo. This sighting was also confirmed with two other trustworthy and experienced sighters at a different location about 60 miles further north on Mount Tamalpais just north of San Francisco in Marin County. They saw the moon at the same time I did. The brothers Zakariyya Twist of Zaytuna Institute and Mikael Santini were the other two."

  4. Seen: Dr. John Polacheck from (Tucson, AZ) said: "We used very high quality binoculars, tripod mounted: Miyauchi achromat 20 X 100, 90-degree model), which covered a field of about 2 degrees (exit pupil 5 mm). Numerous bands of dense clouds. Winesses: Jim Stamm, John Polacheck and John Curry." Dr. Polacheck mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by binoculars.

Saturday 20 January 2007:

• India: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohamed Amin said: "All over India the Crescent of New year 1428, Muharram was seen clear by Naked Eyes surrounded with the Planets without any aid. Accordingly almost all over India the first day of Muharram 1428 began on Sunday 21st January 2007."

• Bangladesh: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abm Hassan mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eye.

• Iran: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani said:
  

  Location: Esfahan, Iran
  Latitude: 32° 37' N
  Longitude: 51° 35' E
  Elevation: 1500 meters
  Time Zone: +3.5
  (MoonCal 6.0 Dr. Monzur Ahmed, Topo, Refrac OFF)
  Time: 18:06 LT
  Moon Altitude: 7° 10' 53"
  Sun Altitude: -(8° 57' 17")
  Elongation: 18° 14' 13"
  Relative Azimuth: -(8° 31' 37")
  Phase: 2.77%
  Width: 0.82m
  Arc Length: 150° (2.5-7.5)
  Photographer: Alireza Mehrani
  

  Saturday 20 January 2007
  
  By: Alireza Mehrani

• Kuwait: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Kuwait on Sat 20 Jan 2007 I could sight the crescent first with 20*60 binocular at 17:07 then by naked eyes at 17:14. Our local sunset was at 17:16. Venus was seen easier the the crescent and above it by 2 finger (3 degrees). The westeren horizon was partly cloudy plus some haze 3 degrees above the horizon."
  Saturday 20 January 2007
  
  By: Hussain Khushaish

• Germany: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned it was cloudy.

Saturday 20 January 2007:

1. Indonesia
2. Yemen
3. Saudi
4. Kuwait
5. UAE
6. Jordan
7. Egypt
8. Algeria
9. USA

Sunday 21 January 2007:

1. Australia
2. Bangladesh
3. India
4. Iran
5. Morocco
6. South Africa