International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Monday 13 May from Brunei by Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir. The crescent was also seen on this day from Singapore, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait, Jordan, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, USA, and Guyana.

Sunday 12 May

• Maldives: ICOP member, Mr. Ahmed Salih said: "The were some clouds low on the horizon. But it was clean enough to see the crescent but it was not seen."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab mentioned that the sky way partly cloudy and no crescent was seen.

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Bankacem said: "The sky was clear, a fine layer of mist was present in the west horizon but no crescent was observed. It is a luck rare to see what goes by the west this month. The five visible planets by naked eye are present here, it is a beautiful conjunction."

• USA: ICOP member, Mr. Jim Stamm said: "There were only 2 or 3 thin open bands in the cirrus clouds from which to view. The elongation of this hilal was 6.8 degrees - less than Danjon's Limit." Mr. Stamm tried to see the crescent by 8" Telescope.

Monday 13 May

• Indonesia: ICOP member, Mr. Khotib Sholeh said: "We have tried to see the crescent since five years ago (especially for Ramadan and Shawal) but it was NOT visible except once in 1997. And the cause is, I think, the sky above horizon has been always cloudy. As we know Ramadan and Shawal occur in months of February, January and December, in which we have rainy season in Indonesia. Insha Allah next month we will be able to see the crescent and we of course will report it."

• Brunei: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Mohamad Tahir said: "A group of 20 persons from Survey Department gathered to sight the new moon of Rabiul Awal. It was cloudy at the west horizon, but at about 19:00 hrs, the crescent was seen by a few people with binocular and telescope. The crescent only can be seen for less than one minute and disappear behind the cloud until it set. The month of Rabiul Awal starts 14/5/2002."

• Singapore: Mr. Firdaus Yahya said: "First Crescent was claimed to be seen by another observer for several seconds in cirrostratus clouds, which was between heap of cumulus clouds and cirrus clouds. The observer was at the same observation site, using same binoculars. Time of observed crescent 7:05 p.m. local time. Moon's alt about 10 deg. slightly to the right of setting sun. "

• Iran:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. AliReza Mehrani said:

     "Local Sunset at 7:46 p.m. (LT) May 13, 2002.
     UT Time and Date of Sunset = 15:16 May 13, 2002.
     Crescent first observed through 12x70 binoculars (by Alireza Mehrani) at 7:52 p.m. (LT).
     Crescent first observed with the naked eye (by Miss. Leyla Mir Shamshirgaran) at 7:59 p.m. (LT).
     Final observation with naked eye (by Miss. Leyla Mir Shamshirgaran) at 8:44 p.m. (LT).
     Final observation with binoculars (by Alireza Mehrani) at 8:45 p.m. (LT).
     Local Moonset at 8:45 p.m. (LT) May 13, 2002.
     UT Time and Date of Moonset = 16:15 May 13, 2002."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that the he cloud see the crescent by naked eyes.

• Iraq: ICOP member, Mr. Tarek Katbeh said: "the crescent was seen firstly by the binocular, then easily by naked eyes."

• Bahrain: ICOP member, Mr. Fathi Mayoof said: "IT WAS A GREAT OBSERVATION. DUE TO OUR HUMID WEATHER, THE OBSERVATION OF CRESCENT BECOME MORE CHALLENGE. I TRIED TO OBSERVE IT AT SUNSET UP TO THE TIME OF FIRST VISIBLE WHICH IS AFTER 25 MINUTES. IT WAS DIFFICULT AND THIN CRESCENT, I COULDN'T SPOT IT BY MY NAKED EYES, BUT MY SISTER DID. I GOT IT WITH AID OF BINOCULAR."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Ismail Al-Abdulmohsen mentioned that the he cloud see the crescent by naked eyes.

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "Although it was supposed to be seen easily, the crescent was seen with difficulty because of the haze the last 2-3 degrees (Venus was seen before 10 minutes )& it was only seen by naked eyes for 10 minutes. Also I met another person who saw the crescent at 7:05."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mohammad Odeh said: "A little bit hazy sky, but the magnificent crescent was seen clearly through the 10" computerized telescope from Amman. Myself along with other two observers could claim that we were able to glimpse the crescent by naked eyes."

• Algeria:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Bankacem said: "We have observed the cressent easily 20mn before the "best time" (mooncalc6) and the west horizon was hazy."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. Nassim Seghouani said: "I have seen yesterday Monday 13 the new Crescent in Algiers just after sunset (about 10 min after) it was about 20:00 local time in Algiers, The sky was clear (not dark), not cloudy, the very thin crescent was visible about 15 or 20 ° above horizon, few degrees right of Jupiter which was clearly visible at 45 ° (minimum) above horizon. The official beginning of month in Algeria is Tuesday 14th . Note that all official beginning of months in Algeria are the same as UHC, since the Ministry of Religious Affairs follows the calendar made by our Observatory. For Ramadhan, Shawal and Thul Hidja, some problems may arise unfortunately. So except for last months of the year, you can put that the official beginning of months of Algeria corresponds to the UHC, without any other confirmation."

• Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi said: "The crescent was visible easily in Rabat Monday evening, May 13. I observed it with other persons. 1st of Rabee' I in Morocco is Tuesday, May 14th, as announced by the Ministry of Awqaf."

• Nigeria:
  1. ICOP member, Dr. Sani Mustapha said: "The moon was not sighted in Kauna by me"

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Ibrahim Khaleel Maigari said: "Alhamdu Lillahi, here in one location some where in cetral Bauchi Metropolis we sighted the new moon of Rabiul auwal at about 18:42 hrs local time today, Monday May 13,2002 in Bauchi (Bauchi State of Nigeria). The group consisted of nine non-ICOP members and each one sighted it. The new moon remained visible until around 18:54 hrs when a stip of cloud hid the hilaal from view. Wishing all of us the best in the Blessings of Allah (SWT) througout the month and beyond."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "It has been announced by the Muslim Judicial Council that the 1st Rabi-ul Awwal 1423 will correspond to Tuesday, 14 May 2002. A positive Hilaal sighting was reported from Lydenberg, in the north-eastern province of M'Pumulanga. Here in Cape Town, the sky was totally overcast from before sunset to after moonset at 18 h 44 and the Hilaal was not sighted. Salamat to all on the beginning of this month of Moulood."

• Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann said: "The four planets Jupiter, Venus, Mars and Saturn were easily visible with naked eyes or binoculars, unfortunately the Crescent and Mercury being lower to the horizon were hidden by clouds."

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: ICOP member, Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic mentioned that the sky was cloudy.

• UK:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Maqsood Fazel said: "NO CRESCENT SEEN IN MANCHESTER, UK DUE TO PATCHY CLOUD."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Baig said: "After two sunny days, It has been raining for the past 24 hours !!"

• USA:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Khalid Shaukat passed these two emails:-

     "AsSalaamuAliakum; I just easily sighted the moon with naked eye here in Logan, UT at 8:36 pm. Good luck and Khoda-hafez."

     "The Hilaal was sighted this evening in Johannesburg. Cape Town was misty - very poor visibility."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "I SAW THE CRESCENT IN OPA LOCKA, FLORIDA, USA ON MONDAY, 13TH MAY, 2002. IT WAS FIRST SEEN AT 8:37 PM AFTER SUNSET. THE HORIZON HAD EXTENSIVE RAINY CLOUDS. THE NEW CRESCENT WAS LOCATED IN A CLOCK POSITION OF APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 8 O'CLOCK, LEFT OF THE ELAPSED SUNSET."

• Guyana: ICOP member, Mr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "SULTAN HAFIZ (IMAM OF ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID) REPORTED FROM GUYANA, THAT ATTEMPS WERE MADE TO OBSERVE THE NEW CRESCENT BY HIMSELF AND MEMBERS OF ROSE HALL TOWN MASJID AND THE ROSE HALL TOWN ISLAMIC CENTER ON MONDAY, 13TH MAY, 2002. THE NEW CRESCENT WAS SEEN WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTY AT 6:10 PM (GUYANA TIME)."

Monday 13 May:-

1. Maldives
2. Iraq
3. Kuwait
4. Saudi
5. Bosnia and Herzegovi

Tuesday 14 May:-

1. Indonesia
2. Brunei Darussalam
3. Singapore
4. Iran
5. Bahrain
6. Jordan
7. Algeria
8. Morocco
9. South Africa
10. UK
11. USA
12. Guyana