AUASS: Seeing the crescent last Thursday was impossible
London - Quds Press.
A statement made by the AUASS (The Arab Union for Astronomy & Space Sciences) has strictly exiled the possibility of seeing the Shawwal crescent on Thursday, Jan 6th. " It was only possible to see it on Friday or Saturday", stated the AUASS. The statement made it clear that the countries in which Friday was the first day of the Eid, were obviously wrong. "It boldly contradicts with the simplest scientific facts". AUASS has shown it's great regret and marveling over the fragmented beginnings of the Holy months. Adding that the Islamic world had celebrated the Eid in four different days all over the Globe. "Nigeria has announced Thursday, Jan 6th to be the first day of the Fitter feast, whereas Saudi Arabia and other countries declared it on Friday, Jan 7th. Most of the rest of the Islamic world made Saturday, Jan 8th their first Eid day, and some left it till Sun, Jan 9th".
"As for the crescent of Shawwal", adds AUASS. "The geocentric conjunction occurred on Thursday at 18:14 UT. The conjunction is the same meaning of the new moon, or the wane phase. It happens when the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, that we only see the dark side of the moon. The crescent starts to appear after 12-20 hours of the conjunction".
"If we want to sight a crescent after the sunset, then the conjunction should have occurred 12-20 hours earlier than the sunset". Said the statement. It also emphasized that the Sun went down in Mecca at 17:44 Saudi time on Thursday Jan 6th. Whereas the conjunction occurred at 21:14 Saudi time of that day (UT+3). Which means that the conjunction happened after the sunset in Saudi Arabia and not before. Which makes the sighting of the crescent from Saudi Arabia not only not possible on Thursday, but also completely impossible.
AUASS also said that the sighting of the crescent from all of the Islamic countries was impossible on Thursday Jan 6th. Adding: "The sighting of the crescent wasn't that easy even on Friday. For the astronomical calculations has shown that the crescent won't be seen after the sunset on Friday from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Afaganistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and most of Iran. Where it was possible to see it throw a telescopes in parts of Iran, the gulf countries, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunis, Libya, and Algeria. Where in Mauritania, Morocco, and all the rest of the western countries you may get a clear eye sighting of the crescent on that day". "Assuming the actual sighting of the crescent, Saturday, Jan 8th should be the first day of the Eid in the countries that were able to see the crescent on Friday, and to be on Sunday in the countries that were able to see the crescent on Saturday only".
The statement of AUASS declared that one announcement - based on no scientific facts - of one country, made millions of Muslims skip a day of fasting and to start Eid on Friday. Stating: " There are some countries where they trust the calculations of their astronomers, and their credibility, refused to accept such an announcement. Which accepting it shows the ignorance of those who believed it".
Concluding, AUASS stated: "The first country able to sight the crescent was Iran, and through a telescope only. Irani observers couldn't see it by naked eyes. And we wonder! How did - he who ever claimed that he saw the crescent - see it on Thursday, 24 hours prior to the first sighting with the telescope?"
Finally, AUASS saluted the governors of the countries that announce Saturday or Sunday to be the first of the Eid.
