International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Tuesday 17 August from Iran by ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani.

Monday 16 August 2004:

• Australia:
  • ICOP member Mr. Rami El Sahmarani: Not seen. (Cloudy)

• Brunei:
  • ICOP member Mr. Hazarry Haji Ali Ahmad: Not seen. "The weather condition was very hazy in Brunei. Jupiter was visibled a few minutes after sunset. The new moon observation was done by the personnel of survey department and members of the astronomical society of Brunei."

• Iran:
  • ICOP member Mr. Majid Marzani: Not seen. "It was clear but the crescent was not Seen."
  • ICOP member Mr. Reza Amirzadah: Not seen.
  • ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani: Not seen. "I, together with two friends of mine, did the crescent observation using two 12" and 8" telescopes (Meade LX200 GPS) during the sunset of August 16th. However, we failed due to a rather thick dust in the horizon.Next you can see 3 image of our location." Leveling the tripod of the telescope
    Ready and waiting Sunset
    Western Horizon after sunset

• Saudi Arabia:
  • ICOP member Mr. Anwar Almuhammad: Not seen. "I with 7 parsons tried to sight the new crescent of Rajab-1425, 20 minutes before the time of sun set in Monday, 16 Aug 2004, in the eastern area of Saudi Arabia “Al-Aujam- 26:33N, 49:47E” at the observatory of Qatif Astronomy Society (QAS). We used a computerized 10” LX-200 GPS telescope, which was aligned in the previous night. We tested its alignment by pointing it toward Jupiter first then to the moon. The western horizon was not so clear. Also the characteristics of the moon are not enough to see it. For these reason, we could not see it by nether by naked nor by telescope. More detail is available at: www.qasweb.org."

• Jordan:
  • ICOP member Dr. Tarek Katbeh: Not seen. "Three of JAS members (Hani Dalee, Yousef Mtar and me) went to Al-Rajef (250 km to the south of Amman) on the top of Al-sharah mountains. we tried to observe the crescent using our Meade LX200GPS 10" telescope but we were not able to see it even the western horizon was clear."

• South Africa:
  • ICOP member Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim: Not seen. "No moon sighted in Southern Africa either by naked-eye or binoculars."

• Nigeria:
  • ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen: Not seen. "Various reports from country side indicate that crescent was not seen in Nigeria on Monday evening. The following city observers reported that no crescent was sighted either to cloudy or haze in the western sky city are Sokoto(brother Maruuf) Maiduguri (brother Sarafadeen) Kano (Muahmmed Yasin Qamardeen) Lagos (Abd rauf Adesoye, Abu aisha, Abdul azeez Dhikrullah)Jos (sister Ruqayyah)."
  • ICOP member Mr. Usman Duhhu: Not seen. "It was cloudy here in Bauchi, theifore sighting was not possible."

• Ireland:
  • ICOP member Mr. James McKenna: Not seen. (Partly cloudy)

• USA:
  • ICOP member Dr. Javad Torabinejad: Not seen. (Partly cloudy)
  • ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz: Not seen. "I tried to observe the Hilaal on Monday 16th August, 2004 in Opa-Locka, Florida USA after sunset. The horizon was completely covered with rainy clouds possibly due to the past huricane making Hilal observation impossible."
  • ICOP member Dr. Murtadha Khakoo: Not seen. "Unable to sight the crescent this evening of Maonday, August 16, 2004 here in Long Beach, California. County of Los Angeles. Heavy low clouds around the sighting area. I was at the sighting area from 7:30pm local time to 8:15pm. No visibility. Sunset time 7:38pm ."

• Canada:
  • ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Farooq: Not seen. (Cloudy)

• Iran:
  • ICOP member Mr. Alireza Mehrani: Seen. "On Tuesday august 17th, I had gone to Tehran for my affairs. During the sunset on my flight to Esfahan I observed the crescent at the height of 23000 ft and took an image of it."
    Rajab crescent as seen from the plane at 23000 ft hight

• Bosnia and Herzegovi:
  • ICOP member Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic: Seen. "The thin Crescent has been easily seen just 15 minutes after the sunset."

• Nigeria:
  • ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen: Seen. "Crescent were seen at Kano sokoto, Maiduguri but report from Lagos and Jos indicate cloudy sky therefore crescent were not sighted."
  • ICOP member Mr. Aminu Luqman: Not seen. (Cloudy)

• Germany:
  • ICOP member Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann: Not seen. (Cloudy)

Tuesday 17 August 2004 :-

1. Australia
2. Brunei
3. Oman
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Jordan
6. Egypt
7. Ireland
8. Bosnia and Herzegovi
9. USA

Wednesday 18 August 2004 : -

1. Iran
2. Morocco
3. South Africa