So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Monday 15 June from South Africa. The crescent was also seen from Nigeria, Morocco & Canada. On the other hand the crescent was NOT seen (by ICOP members) in Iran, Kuwait, and UK (On 15 June).

Monday 14 June

• Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi tried to see the crescent but he did not see it !

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Dr. Nidhal Guessoum said: " 3 people here (myself among them) tried to observe the crescent last evening, in the suburb of Kuwait City, where the western horizon was totally clear but obviously hazy/dusty. The 3 people watched independently for the first 35 minutes, then for the next 10 minutes they watched together. Nothing was seen. The first star to appear in the western sky did so 40 minutes after sunset and was located at about 14 degrees above the horizon."

• South Africa:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "Due to overcast, rainy weather, our observers could not see the crescent moon tonight. We watched the western horizon until 18h43 and no crescent moon was reported to be seen. However, the Waterval Islamic Society, in the northern part of South Africa reported to have seen the crescent clearly at about 17h15, The Muslim Judicial Council accepted this testimony and declared the first night of Rabee-ul=Auwal 1420."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. John Caldwell of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) said: "From sunset to moonset it was overcast and off-and-on raining, location was at the Observatory (18.48,-33.94) since trip to Signal Hill was judged not worth it, there were a few smallish clear patches before sunset but essentially completely overcast thereafter."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Alabi Isiaq said: "The crescent was seen here on Monday (14/06/99). Clear skies; observed by naked eyes."

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: " In Morocco, officially the first day of the New Islamic month is Tuesday 15 June 99. During the information News on TV Screen, the ministry of Islamic missions has declared that the crescent was seen on the Monday 14 June 99 and so the first day of the Islamic month is the Tuesday 15 June 99. They did not indicate the place were they have observed the new crescent ......In Rabat, I did not see the crescent on the same day. As you know the new Moon was on the Sunday 13 June 99 at 19 h 3 mn 55 s, and 24 hours after it was possible to see the crescent."

• Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "Despite the cloudy sky, I was able to spot the crescent by binoculars at 21:23 (sunset 21:01). About 30 seconds later by naked eyes.

Tuesday 15 June

• UK: ICOP member, Dr. Monzur Ahmed said:

  "14th June 1999 - no sighting attempt made.

  15th June 1999 - we went to our usual spot on top a small hill within the city. We were expecting to see the crescent. Local sunset was at 21:36 and "best time" for crescent visibility was about 22:10. Unfortunately there was a thick band of black cloud on the western horizon and no sighting was made. We observed until 22:20."

Monday 14 June:-

1. Jordan
2. Palestine

Tuesday 15 June:-

1. South Africa
2. Morocco

Mr. Yasser Abdelhadi of the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (Helwan Observatory), sent JAS the below E-mail.

Dear Mr. Mohamed Odeh,

Al- Salamu Alykom wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh....

Regarding for your request for asking about the Rabeea' Awwal Crescent, the condition is: The crescent of Rabeea' Awwal will be born after the conjunction that takes place in 19:03 UT on Sunday 29 Safar 1420 H (13 June 1999). Thus it can not be seen before the sunset in Cairo because the setting will be before its birth. Accordingly, Monday 14 June 1999 will be the complementary day of Safar month, and Tuesday 15 June will be the beginning of Rabeea' Awwal one. Thank you for joining me and have my deep congratulations in the occasion of "Al- Mawlid Al- Nabawy" (The Prophet Mohamed Birth). Wa Al- Salamu Alykom wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh....

Yours
Yasser Abdel-Hadi
(National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG))
Helwan, Cairo, Egypt