International Astronomical Center

• Australia: Partly Cloudy/Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Afroz Ali said: "There was a claim from two brothers in Darwin (Northern Australia) that the crescent was sighted, although it is impossible to have sighted it. This claim was “assessed” by a group of the ‘Ulama, who chose to make a public announcement that they accepted the witness’s claim and declared tomorrow, 1st September to be 1st of Ramadhan! I, and a few others, registered our disagreement, and explained why, but it was not accepted. As a result al-Ghazzali Centre and a few other organisations and locations have dissented from the announcement, and will establishe 2nd September as the start of Ramadhan."

• Indonesia:
  1. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Hananto Aribowo Tommy said: "Bogor-Indonesia-Cloudy-Not Seen by naked eye." Mr. Tommy added in another report: "Indonesian Government trough Ithbat meeting held on 31 August 2008 start at 18:55 Western Indonesian Time (GMT +7), had made official decision on the first day Ramadhan 1429H, on 1 September 2008. This Ithbat meeting was broadcasted live on government television network (TVRI) including live hilal sighting process from 4 places, in total, Indonesian Government have 27 official hilal observation location trough out Indonesia. The Indonesian government received 4 hilal sighting claim from:
     1. Condrodipo, Gresik - east Java island. Hilal seen by Muhammad Solahudin and Muhyidin,
     2. Pantai Depok, Bantul - Central Java Island. Hilal seen by a group of muslims one of them are: Drs Ististani.
     3. Lenong, West Lampung - Sumatra Island. Hilal seen by group of muslims, one of them are Muswardi
     4. Basmal, West Jakarta. Hilal seen by local ulama KH Abdul Hadi
     To validates the claims, local government ministry of religious offices expert have assess the claims and those People are also have taken oath for the claim. This info taken from Indonesian ministry of religious affair website."

  2. Cloudy: ICOP member, Mr. Mutoha Arkanuddin said: "This evening, me and some members of Indonesian Crescents Observation tried to sight the crecent from the hill of Parangkusumo beach, Yogyakarta. According to the calculation, sunset at 17:38 LT, moon at sunset 5° above the horizon and moonset 18:02 LT. The crescent not seen because the Western sky was cloudy. However four places in Indonesia reported that the crescent was sighted. Base on this report Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs has officially declared on National TV that the first Ramadhan begin on Monday 1 September 2008. More on http://rukyatulhilal.org."
     

  3. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member, Mr. AR Sugeng Riyadi said: "I've tried to observe the new crescent of Ramadhan 1429 AH, on Sunday 31 August 2008 in Parangkusumo Beach Yogyakarta Indonesia, but we have a trouble to find the location because of bad and tatol-stopped traffics. According to my friend and also my students report the New Crescent was NOT SEEN, because the Western Sky was Cloudy in Surakarta, and the western sky rather haze in Yogyakarta. The Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs has officially declared on National Radio (RRI) that the first Ramadhan 1429 AH begin on Monday 1 September 2008."

• Malaysia:
  1. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Abdul Majid Abdul Wahid mentioned that the crescent was not seen by telescope, and the sky was partly cloudy.

  2. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "The hilal sighting ceremony was held at the new Khawarizmi observatory at Tg. Bidara Melaka, led by the Governor of Melaka state and Chief Minister of Melaka state, Mufti, the hilal sighting committe and muslim communities gathered here to observed the hilal but the hilal was not seen. The western sky was partly cloudy and the sunset was seen at west horizon. The hilal was not seen even through the, Meade 8” LX200, Takahasi 60mm and Theodolite . The 1st Ramadhan 1429 begins on Monday September 1, 2008, was officially announced by the authority through the radio and TV channels. Ramadhan Mubarak."

• Philippines:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Abu Ammar Mangorangca said: "Marawi City Philippines fairly good weather not seen naked eye. Group of 14 from 2 Mosques headed by Satar Laguindab used site near sea."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Satar Laguindab said: "We were at the hill top of Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Philippines, today Sunday, August 31, 2008 for hilal sighting to conform the sunnah of rasolollah, s.a.w., to sight the hilal on the 29th day of Sha'ban. We were there for 45 minutes; 20 minutes before and 25 minutes after the sunset. We were group of ten (10). The weather was fair and good with partial cloudy sky in the horizon but NO hilal was sighted"

• Korea: Not Seen: Mr. Arief Sasongko Adhi said: "Korea Muslim Federation has decided that the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan is on Monday, 1 September 2008. The information can be accessed from http://www.koreaislam.org/notice.do."

• Brunei Darussalam:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad said: "At dusk on 31 August 2008, several religious officials converged at a few vantage points to sight the newmoon of Ramadhan and later confirmed that it was not sighted. It took place simultaneously at several strategic locations in the country including Bukit Shahbandar in Jerudong, BukitAgok Firing Range and Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District and Bukit Lumut in the Belait District. By consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam it has been announced that Brunei will begin fasting for the month of Ramadhan from Tuesday."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Tahir said: "The moon was failed to be sighted this evening (31/8/2008) on all locations. The first day of Ramadhan officially announce to be on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008."

• Bangladesh: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Azizul Huq said: "Clear-Not Seen-Naked Eye and Binoculars."

• Pakistan:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad Sultan Alam said: "I tried to sight the moon in Karachi with 2 persons, but not sighted, it was partially cloudy and polluted. On my request, members of personal moon-sighting committees of our institute and my friends tried to sight the moon at 30 places all over Pakistan, but result was nill. Nearly, all reporters are religious scholars. They tried at these places, weather was almost clear:Karachi (at 9 places), Tando-Allah yar, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Meerali, Peshawar, Miranshah, Multan, Pishin, Iskardo, Malakand, Hyderabad, Shorkot, Sargodha, Sheikhopura, Muzaffarabad, Akora-Khatak, Badeen, Battal, Abbotabad, Lahore, Kohat."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Saif Qureshi said: "Islamabad_ Pakistan_ Slight haze_ NOT SEEN_ Nakled eye & binocular."

• Iran:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram mentioned that he was not able to see the crescent from Saravn.

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Kian Heidari said: "On Sunday Sha'ban 29th, August 31st, the weather was clear in both Tonekabon and Salmanshahr. I(Kian Heidari) and my co-worker(Mr.AmirHossein Shafi'i) did NOT observe the hillal. Observation was tried by binoculars too but no result. Hillal was NOT seen neither in Tonekabon (36:49':7"N,50:52':7"E) nor in Salmanshahr (36:43'N,51:12'E). CSCOG (Caspian Sky Crescent Observation Group)"

• Oman:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Saleh Al-Shidhani said: "No positive observations from Oman. The Main/highest committee at the ministry used astronomical software, air traffic charts and satellite weather images as part of the process of verifying the report/claims. Five different teams of astronomers were trying to observe the thin crescent. Without luck due to low level crescent, clouds, dust. one team using lunar telescope with advanced CCD at 3000 m high: Clouds, no visibility. 2nd at 2500 meter and 3rd at surface or 300 m both with 10"telescope again clouds just before sunset. 4th team with 8" telescope negative partly due to dust and thin clouds. 5th team with binoculars at 400 m a lot of haze."

  2. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Sulaiman Al-Busaidi from Jabal Shams mentioned that he didn't see the crescent due to the cloudy weather.

  3. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Marwan Shwaiki from Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar mentioned that he didn't see the crescent due to the cloudy weather. Mr. Ammar Al-Rawahi and Mr. Osama Al-Busaidi were with Marwan as well.

  4. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Sabih Al-Saadi from Muscat mentioned that he didn't see the crescent.

  5. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Al-Busaidi mentioned that the crescent was not seen from anywhere in Oman.

• Saudi:
  1. Hazy/Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Majid Marzani said: "Seeing the crescent by naked eyes and binoculars was tried, but it was not seen in Madinah Monawarah."
     

  2. Hazy/Cloudy/Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Edrees Al Shubbar said: "A total of about 35 moon sighters attended at agreed location 1 hour before the sun sets, however the sun just disappeared 15 minutes before its actual set time behind dust and somewhat the humidity."
     

  3. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "The crescent was only three degrees above horizon." Mr. Al-Saab added that he couldn't see the crescent even by telescope.

  4. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Khaled Zaaq mentioned that along with 30 observers they didn't see the crescent by telescopes despite the clear sky.

  5. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Ali Al-Shukri mentioned that he didn't see the crescent from Al-Khobar despite the clear sky.

• Bahrain: Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. A.Hameed Ali Haji said: " Sighted the new crescent of Ramadan with walialaser group, but the sky was cloudy, specially the western horizon was cloudy hazy and dusty. So the new moon was not seen.""

• Qatar: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Rami Labib mentioned that the crescent was not seen by binocular, and the sky was clear.

• Jordan:
  1. Not Seen/Hazy/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Ahmad Al-Hudban mentioned that the crescent was not seen by telescopes from Ras Muneef in Ajloun, and the sky was hazy and partly cloudy. Other observers were: Amal Daoud and Iyad Abu-Ghoush.

  2. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Yousef Hmooz mentioned that the crescent was not seen by 8" telescope from Western Amman, and the sky was hazy.

  3. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Ms. Basma Dhiab mentioned that the crescent was not seen by 8" telescope from Marj Al-Hamam in Amman, and the sky was hazy.

  4. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Mashoor Wardat mentioned that the crescent was not seen from Al-Shoubak, and the sky was clear.

  5. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Khaled Al-Tall mentioned that the crescent was not seen by 2" telescope from Edoon-Irbid, and the sky was hazy. Mr. Maher Al-Nammari was observing with him also.

• Lebanon:
  1. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "In Khaiam town in south Lebanon at a hieght of 750 m above see level on Sun 31 Aug 2008 I could not see the Crescent even with 20*60 binocular. Venus was seen easily also Jupiter was seen easily at sunset time. The western horizon was cloudy upto 5 degrees."

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Ahmad Raad said: "Baalbeck-Lebanon-Clear-Not Seen-Naked Eye and Binoculars."

• Egypt: Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Dr. Hayman Metwally mentioned that the crescent was not seen by 6" telescope from Cairo, and the sky was hazy.

• Libya: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Salem Sahid said: "Tripoli –Libya -Clear- Not Seen-Naked Eye."

• Tunisia:Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Dhaker Bin Hammamia mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent even by telescope.

• Algeria:
  1. ICOP member Dr. Jamal Mimouni said: "The annoucement of the National Crescent Committee in Algeria as read on national TV stated that the crescent was seen today Sunday 31 August (29 of Chaabane) from three locations in Algeria: the Wilayates of Tlemcen, Constantine and Bordj Bou Arreridj. On this basis and the fact that the crescent was also reported seen in Malaysia and South Africa, tomorrow Monday 1st of September will be the first of Ramadhan."

  2. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "Sunday, 31/8/2008 , 30 people have tried to observe, with naked eye and using three binoculars, the crescent of Ramadan 1429 but it wasn't seen. The western horizon was hazy and partly cloudy from Merkiche Station."

• Morocco: Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Othman Fadli said: "NOT.able.to.see.CRESCENT-MOON.in.MARRAKESH.Totally Cloudy"

• Senegal:
  1. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ibrahima Thierno Lo said: "I haven't seen the crescent myself and the group who join me in the site of observation. But we received claim of sighting Hilal in Dakar from 3 persons. I met two of them and they confirm the have seen the Hilal. However, the national Commission fixed 1er Ramadan, Tuesday 2 september 2008."
     

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Alexandre Ngom said: "National commitie of sighting moon crescent has informed that crescent has not been seen on Sunday,so the official first Ramadan is Tuesday september 2,2008. Cloudly sky at sunday evening at large part of country of Senegal."

• Tanzania:
  1. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Hamza Rijal said: "It is almost 25 minutes after sunset with group of Muslim we failed to sight the Hilal, weather is very cloudy, however I am waiting the results from other region." Mr. Rijal added in another report: "There is confirmation that hilal was sighted in Kenya and Grand Mufti of Mombasa has confirm it."

  2. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Zaffar Sheriff said: "The western sky was relatively clear with the exception of low lying clouds just above the horizon. The crescent was NOT SEEN." Mr. Sheriff mentioned that they were observing by naked eye and binoculars.

• Namibia: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ahmed Mohamed said: "Moon was sighted in Windhoek NAMIBIA, at about 18:09 local time, was only visible for about 8 mins."

• Nigeria:
  1. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Muhammed Ya'sin Qamardeen said: "I tried to observe the New Hilal of Ramadan here, around Abeokuta express Road, Mangoro, Agege Lagos, however due to cloudy sky the new hilal was not visible. Besides, report from different location such brother Nurudeen Miftaudeen and Rasheed Abdul kareem (Lagos), Sister Toyyibah Akewushola (Ogba Ikeja) and Lajinatul Hilal (Ilorin Kwara state)indicated negative sighting"

  2. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. AbdulRasaq Ishola Ikorodu said: "Cloudy-not Seen-Naked Eye and Binoculars."

  3. Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Usman Ali El-Nafaty said: "Bauchi - Nigeria - Cloudy - Not Seen - Naked Eye."

  4. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Usman Dukku said: "25 of us attempted sighting the crescent but we did not see it here in Bauchi. The weatern horizon was partly cloudy."

• South Africa:
  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Ashraf Dockrat mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by naked eye from Pretoria.

  2. Partly Cloudy/Not Seen: ICOP member Dr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim said: "The Muslim Judicial Council officially announced that the 1 Ramadaan will correspond to 1 September 2008. They received a sighting claim from Johannesburg. No details of the claimed Johannesburg sighting is available from the authorities. I did not see the crescent from my sighting station at Green Point lighthouse in Cape Town. Observers at Cape Town Signal Hill and Bakoven did not see the moon. The field of vision was clear and no crescent sighted with a 525x magnification lunarscope and a 20x50 binoculars."

• Spain: Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Muhammad del Pozo mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eye, and the sky was partly cloudy.

• Bosnia and Herzegovi: Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Kemal Sehbajraktarevic said: "Apparent sunset: 19:28 LT. Instrument used: Naked Eyes. It was clear but the crescent was not seen. Official first day of Ramadan: Monday, 01th September."

• Germany:
  1. ICOP member Mr. Martin Elsaesser said: "Daytime crescent observation through REAL-TIME video in non visual light. The crescent was easily visible on the screen at 7.8° elongation despite milkish skies near the sun. Crescent-tv." Note from ICOP: Kindly notice that was able to capture the crescent under the following conditions:-
     1. He didn't see the crescent after sunset, he was only able to capture it during daylight time.
     2. He was able to capture it by CCD camera, but was NOT able to see it even by telescope.
     3. He used infrared filter, not visual light!
     Kindly Click Here to see his picture

  2. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Samy Khadem-Al-Charieh said: "As expected I could not see the crescent here in Berlin, Germany, for it was setting before the sun. Although it was cloudy I could see venus for about five minutes near to eight o'clock and from eight o'clock on Jupiter was visible in the south."

• Norway: Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Imran Mushtaq said: "Cloudy in Oslo-Norway today. Islamic Council of Norway have officially declared 01.09.1429 on Monday 01.09.08. Ramadan mubarak."

• UK:
  1. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Mohamed Riaz said: "Tried to view the Moon 5 minutes before during and 15 minutes after Magrib. Very cloudy .. result not seen."

  2. Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti from Oxford, UK said: "Seen by others. Negative sighting. A group of us attempted to perform the obligatory sighting of Ramadan after Maghrib on Sunday 31st September (the 29th day of Sha'ban for the UK). Unfortunately, the horizon is completely overcast. We received news of positive sightings to the East of the UK from Indonesia as well as South Africa. This news, despite not being able to sight locally in the UK, makes it sufficient for those in the UK to begin the month of Ramadan tomorrow, on Monday the 1st of September (beginning from today's Maghrib, instead of Tuesday, the 2nd), by following the basic rule [dabit] in Islamic Law in this matter that whenever it is known that the crescent has been positively sighted in the East, local sighting inevitably follows, but not the other way round. Ramadan Karim!

  3. Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Qamar Uddin from London said: "On Sunday, 31 August 2008 corresponding to 29 Shaban 1429 AH, I have tried to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) from York (UK) after the Magrib (sunset) prayer to practice upon the Sunnah of Prophet (S). The sky was overcast with clouds so it was not possible to sight the Hilal by the naked eye or binoculars. Even if the sky was clear, we were not expecting to sight the Hilal in UK, as the first visibility of the Hilal today was expected to start from the Southern Hemisphere (and UK is in the Northern Hemisphere). However, we have received reliable news from the East of UK (Jamiatul Ulama, South Africa) that the Hilal had been sighted. Therefore the Ulama (see www.wifaqululama.co.uk/home.html) have decided that 1 Ramadan 1429 AH in UK will begin from Monday 1 September 2008, Insha-Allah. Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims. May Allah forgive our sins and accept our prayers in the blessed month (Ameen)."

  4. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Abdurrashid Ayoubi from Kettering said: "The crescent was not seen due to clouds in the western horizon. However today (Sunday 31/8) being 29 shabaan here in UK we shall now complete 30 days according to the Sunnah,InShaAllah. Astronomical calculations indicate the moon had set before sunset so there was no need for us to go to other Eastern countries for shahadah. Therefore 1st Ramadan in UK will be 2nd September after completing 30 days of Shabaan."

  5. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Baig from London said: "Cloudy-naked eye-NOT Seen."

  6. Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Ali Sajaad from Birmingham said: "Overcast- not seen- naked eye."

• USA:

  1. Not Seen: ICOP member, Dr. Salman Shaikh said: "There were no authenticated Hilal sighting reports anywhere in North America on Sunday, August 31 evening. The National Ulema & Astronomers Conference declared Ramadhan start on Tuesday September 2nd. Ramadan Mubarak. Hundreds of experienced observers scattered from Albany NY to Brownsville, TX and several places in California tried to sight the Hilal and confirmed that the Ramadan Hilal was not visible anywhere inspite of clear skies. The decision to start Ramadan Tuesday is UNAINAMOUS for all the Hilal Sighting Committees of North America including New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Texas, California, Toronto etc. and also endorsed by ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America), Zaytuna Institute, Shariah Board of America, Ulema Council of North America and many others Alhamdulillaah. PLEASE ENCOURAGE ALL IN NORTH AMERICA TO REGISTER WITH THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS BY CLICKING THE LINK http://www.hilalsighting.org/register.html TO GET HILAL ALERTS Insha'Allaah. It only takes about 2 minutes and is Free. May Allaah SWT guide and help all Ummah with all the best. Aameen."

  2. ICOP member, Dr. Mohib. N. Durrani said: "It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that there were NO AUTHENTIC sightings of the Hial in North America. I talked to some who had seen something from Albany, NY but upon verification it was determined that they had seen something but it was NOT A HILAL. The major Islamic Organizations (other than ISNA) are starting Ramadan 1429 AH from Tue 2 Sept 2008. These organizations are:
     1. ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America)
     2. Chicago Hilal Committee (for all of greater Chicago)
     3. Zaytuna Institute
     4. Shariah Board of America
     5. Ulema Council of North America
     Despite clear skies in many places NO HILAL WAS VISIBLE from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Texas, California, Toronto."

  3. Not Seen/Hazy/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Clay Chip Smith said: "From the 17th floor of the RLM Building at the University of Texas in Austin Texas USA, the Horizon was evident, but haze and thin clouds obscured the lower ~7 degrees of sky. No Hilal was seen on Sunday August 31 from sunset till 30 minutes after sunset, when we quit trying. Austin has a sighting effort for all 12 months of the year."

  4. Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm said: "There was a break in the clouds about 2 degrees above the horizon, but the crescent was not seen at the caculated time." Mr. Stamm used 8" telescope.

  5. Seen: Mr. Hakim Ouansafi from Hawaii said: "This is to inform you that we were not able to see the moon yesterday. However, this evening Sunday August 31 it was observed in Hawaii."

  6. Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Blacksburg, VA) said: "Due to the partly cloudy sky and extremely hazy condition in our region no sighting was attempted."

• Guyana: Not Seen/Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "Myself and the members of Rose Hall Town Masjids and Islamic Center tried to observe the Hilaal after sunset on Sunday, 31st August, 2008. Unfortunately, due to clouds on the horizon (possibly due to hurricane Gustav in the Caribbena) we were unable to observe the Hilaal. I also contacted Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago earlier, and no positive observations of the Hilaal was made. I am still in the process trying for the first time to contact some Spanish speaking Muslims in South America. I will report if I get any positive Hilaal sighting, Inshallah. Br. Haseeb, the Murshid of the Guyana Islamic Trust later reported to me that there were no positive Hilaal sighting in Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, as such Ramadan fasting will begin on both Monday and Tuesday."

• Trinidad and Tobago: Not Seen/Partly Cloudy: ICOP member Mr. Ali Abdurrahman mentioned that the crescent was not seen by naked eye, and the sky was cloudy.

• Chile: Seen: Mr. Fuad Musa said: "Sunday the New Crescent was seen in the North of Chile and the North of Argentina, and because of this, today Monday was the first day of the sacred month of Ramadan. The New Crescent in the North of our country was seen by our Sheikh and very religious Muslim Brothers."

Monday 01 September 2008:

• Brunei Darussalam: Seen: ICOP member, Mr. Mahadi Tahir said: "The crescent can be seen easily inspite of cloudy at western horizon. The crescent was seen just after the sunset with the telescope and followed by naked eyes shortly after seen by telescope. 1st day of Ramadhan starts on 2nd Sept 2008."

• Sri Lanka: Seen: ICOP member, Dr. Aqil Ahmad Sharifuddeen said: "Crescent was seen in most part of the island. The first day of Ramadan is the 2nd of September."

• Pakistan:
  1. Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Tahir Gul Hasan said: "Observed from sunset until 2005 LT, hazy western horizon prevented me from observing the Ramadan crescent."

  2. Cloudy: ICOP member Dr. Saif Qureshi said: "About 25 people gathered on the roof of a 5 storey building in Islamabad to watch the hilal for the month of Ramadan. Western horizon was cloudy and the hilal was not seen despite attempts to observe it using binoculars and telescopes. However, the hilal has been sighted in other parts of Pakistan and the first day of Ramadan is on 2nd September 2008."

• Iran:
  1. Seen: ICOP member Mr. Kambiz Khaleghi mentioned that he was able to see the crescent by telescope from Tehran city, and the sky was hazy.

  2. Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Kian Heidari said: "On Monday the weather was cloudy and rainy in Tonekabon. I took a trip to Tehran. the weather was clear in Tehran but in sunset some dust was there. The hillal was tried by both naked eye and binoculars unfortunately was NOT seen. CSCOG."

• Nigeria: Seen: ICOP member Imam Majolagbe Monsuru said: "I and some brothers began sighting the crescent by 18:55 though it was cloudy but was seen by 19:18"

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

• USA: Seen: ICOP member Mr. Javad Torabinejad from (Christiansburg, VA) said: "This evening we sighted the moon in Christiansburg, VA at 7:49 (sunset 7:49). I located Venus and then looked for the moon. Due to the haze, I was unable to sight Mercury and Mars."

ICOP Comment on Crescent Sighting Claims on Sunday 31 August 2008

ICOP Scientific Committee discussed the claims of Ramadan crescent sighting on Sunday 31 August 2008, and below is a short statement from the Scientific Committee:-

ICOP’s Scientific Committee’s comments on the Hilal Sightings of Sunday, August 31, 2008

There were several claims that the hilal of Ramadhan 1429 AH was seen in various parts of the world on Sunday, August 31, 2008 after sunset local time. ICOP’s scientific committee would like to thank all those who have conducted observations and sent in their reports. The sightings reported from Australia, Indonesia, Algeria, Tunisia, and Senegal require some astronomical checking and reviewing and some comments. In these countries, the moon was just about 5 degrees, or less, above the western horizon and its lag time (time difference between moonset and sunset) about 20-30 minutes, or less, at the time of local sunset. Astronomically speaking, it is very difficult to see a crescent (with a telescope) and quite impossible to see it (with unaided eye) under such conditions. The ICOP’s SC has reviewed these claims and made the following remarks:

1. Australia: Not only are the astronomical parameters (lag time, age, altitude, etc.) extreme in this reported sighting, but the weather conditions (patches of clouds above the western horizon) strongly indicate that it is very unlikely that the hilal was sighted with the unaided eye in this instance.
2. Indonesia:No details of the observations and of the weather condition have been submitted. The observations were claimed to have been made with naked eyes. Again, the extreme nature of the observations makes it difficult to accept without corroborating evidence.
3. Algeria: No astronomical information was provided for the claimed observations, although the official report seemed to imply naked-eye sightings. Since the astronomical calculations indicated that even by telescopes positive observations would have been difficult, these claims cannot be scientifically accepted.
4. Tunisia: The report from Tunisia did not even clearly state where the observation was made, i.e. from inside or outside of Tunisia, and no information was provided on the conditions of observations.
5. Senegal: No astronomical details were provided (e.g. the crescent’s shape, the exact time and length of the observation, etc.). Moreover, the western horizon was a substantially cloudy and the crescent was said to have been seen between the clouds. With the above information on the claimed sightings, these observations must be subject to further scientific scrutiny. In astronomical terms, these sightings need more details. Further investigation is needed to correctly check these hilal sightings.

Dr. Ilias Fernini
Head of the Scientific Committee

The OFFICIAL First Day in Different Countries

Sunday 31 August 2008:

1. Libya (Conjunction before Dawn)
2. Nigeria (Claim of Sighting)

Monday 01 September 2008:

1. Saudi (30 Days of Shaban)
2. UAE (30 Days of Shaban)
3. Qatar (30 Days of Shaban)
4. Bahrian (30 Days of Shaban)
5. Kuwait (30 Days of Shaban)
6. Iraq (30 Days of Shaban)
7. Yemen (30 Days of Shaban)
8. Palestine (30 Days of Shaban)
9. Lebanon (30 Days of Shaban)
10. Syria (30 Days of Shaban)
11. Egypt (30 Days of Shaban)
12. Sudan (30 Days of Shaban)
13. USA (ISNA, Conjunction Before Sunset in Mecca)
14. Australia
15. Indonesia
16. Malaysia
17. Korea
18. Jordan
19. Somalia
20. Tunis
21. Algeria
22. Kenya
23. South Africa
24. Bosnia and Herzegovi
25. UK
26. Norway

Tuesday 02 September 2008:

1. Brunei Darussalam
2. Bangladesh
3. India
4. Pakistan
5. Iran
6. Oman
7. Morocco
8. Mauritania
9. Senegal
10. Tanzania
11. USA (ICNA and others).
12. Trinidad and Tobago

ICOP Official Statement

Kindly Click Here to read ICOP official statement (Arabic).

When to Observe Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent ?

The geocentric conjunction (Geocentric New Moon) will occur Inshalla on (Saturday 30 August 2008) at 19:58 UT.

Sighting the OLD crescent on (Saturday 30 August 2008) and on (Friday 29 August 2008) is shown in the below graphs using the program Accurate Times by Mohammad Odeh according to Odeh criterion. Where:-

• It is impossible to see the OLD crescent from the areas located under the red color. Because either the Moon on this day rises after the Sunrise and/or the topocentric conjunction occurs before the Sunrise.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid only from the areas located under the blue color.
• The crescent is expected to be seen by optical aid from the areas located under the magenta color. In these areas the crescent could be seen by naked eye if the atmospheric conditions are superb and the observer is experienced.
• The crescent is expected to be easily visible by naked eye from the areas located under the green color.
• The crescent can not be seen from uncolored areas, even though the Moon rises in these locations before the Sunrise and the topocentric conjunction occurs after the Sunrise, but the Moon is not sufficiently illuminated in order to be seen as crescent even by optical aid.
• Kindly notice that the below graph shows the possibility of seeing the crescent from areas between 60 degrees north of Equator down to 60 degrees south of Equator.

Saturday 30 August 2008

Friday 29 August 2008

Shaban Waning (OLD) Crescent Observation Results

Saturday 30 August 2008:

• Iran: Not Seen/Hazy: ICOP member Mr. Mohammad Zahed Aram mentioned that he couldn't see the crescent by binocular from Saravan city, and the sky was hazy.

• Saudi: Hazy/Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Majid Marzani mentioned that he didn't see the crescent by binocular and it was hazy.

• Algeria: Hazy/Not Seen: ICOP member Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "The old crescent of Chaban 1429 wasn't seen, this Saturday 30/08/2008, from Bouamiyed. Eastern horizon was very hazy. In the photo you can watch the sun difficultly behind the haze."