International Astronomical Center

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Tuesday 11 June from USA by ICOP member Mr. Jim Stamm.

Tuesday 11 June

• Malaysia: ICOP member, Mr. Kassim Bahali said: "I have tried to see the hilal but it was not seen because the western sky was cloudy. The first day of Rabeeul Thani begins on Wenesday, 12 June 2002."

• Singapore: Mr. Ibrahim Muhammad Ridhwan said: "The new moon was not seen in Singapore because its very cloudy and I can't see the sun too.But following the Islamic Calendar in Singapore,Tuesday ,12 June 2002 will be the frist day of Rabiul Ahkir.1423 hijrah. Because the Sunset at 7:11pm and the moonset at 7:32pm.It took 22 mins for the moon to set.So I wanted to said Ass'salamu'alaikum to all Muslim Friends in the ICOP.

• Saudi:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: " I am so sorry for not being able to observe the crescent this month."

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Ismail Al-Abdulmohsen said: "I went to this location far away from the city. However, I was not able to see the new moon. On the next day it was very clear starting at 6:45PM."

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "ON TUESDAY 11 JUNE 2002 I TRIED TO SIGHT THE CRESCENT BUT WAS UNABLE EVEN WITH 20*60 BINOCULAR. IT WAS HAZY THE LAST 4 TO 4.5 DEGREES."

• Jordan: ICOP member, Mohammad Odeh said: "JAS gathered to observe the crescent using a 10-inch computerized telescope. The horizon was rather clear with thin line of haze. However, the crescent was not seen."

• Algeria: ICOP member, Mr. Bankih Kacem said: "The wwestern horizon was hazy in Mzab, the crescent was not seen."

• Morocco: Dr. Abdelkhalek Cheddadi said: "The crescent was not visible Tuesday evening, June 11. 1st of Rabee' II in Morocco is Thursday, June 13th, as announced by the ministery of Awqaf."

• South Africa: ICOP member, Mr. Abdurrazak Ebrahim Snr said: "The Hilaal for Rabi II was not sighted anywhere in Southern Africa and therefore it was officially announced that the first of Rabi-ul Thani 1423 shall shall correspond with the 13 June 2002. We had gathered at Three Anchor Bay, Cape Town, hoping to see the alignment of Venus (Zuhra), Jupiter (Mustharie) and Mars (Merreeq) with the new crescent but that area was covered by cloud."

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Usman Dukku said: "It was cloudy here in Bauchi: Sighting the crescent was not possible."

• USA:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. Jim Stamm said:

     Location  = Tucson, Arizona (USA)
     Longitude = 110.9644 W
     Latitude  =  32.4204 N
     Elevation = 843 meters
     
     Temperature          =  91 degrees Farenheit
     Relative Humidity    =  11 percent
     
     Local Sunset at   7:31 p.m. (MST)  11 June 2002
     UT Time and Date of Sunset = 02:31 12 June 2002
     
     Crescent first observed through  9x63 binoculars:
     Time     =    7:48 p.m. (MST)   00:00 (UT)
     Altitude =    7.3 degrees
     Azimuth  =  294.3 degrees
     Elongation of the Moon from Sun =  13.0  degrees
     Percent of surface that was lit =   1.4  percent
     
     Crescent first observed with the naked eye:
     Time     =    7:53 p.m. (MST)   02:53 (UT)
     Altitude =    6.4 degrees
     Azimuth  =  294.9 degrees
     Elongation of the Moon from Sun =  13.0  degrees
     Percent of surface that was lit =   1.4  percent
     
     Final observation with naked eye:
     Time     =    8:21 p.m. (MST)   03:21 (UT)
     Altitude =    1.3 degrees
     Elongation of the Moon from Sun =  13.3  degrees
     
     Local Moonset at   8:33 p.m. (MST)  11 June 2002
     UT Time and Date of Moonset = 03:33 12 June 2002
     
     Slight transparent haze and/or smokey type clouds near the horizon.  
     Otherwise clear and steady.  The crescent was quite obvious at around 
     8:10 p.m. at 3.3 degrees altitude.
     
     Observer:          Jim Stamm
     E-mail Address:    JimStamm@Mac.com
     

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Gulamabbas Khakoo said: "Unable to sight the crescent this evening of Monday,June 11th."

  3. ICOP member, Dr. Muhammad Hafiz said: "New Crescent observation in Opa Locka, Florida, USA on Tuesday, 11th June, 2002 was impossible due to rainy clouds and thunder storm."

     Dr. Hafiz added in another email:

     "Sultan Hafiz reported from Guyana, due to rainy clouds and heavy rain, New Crescent observation by the members of Rose Hall Town Masjid and Rose Hall Town Islamic Center was hindered on Tuesday, 11th June, 2002."

Wednesday 12 June

• Iran:
  1. ICOP member, Mr. AliReza Mehrani mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes.

  2. ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi mentioned that the crescent was seen by naked eyes.

• Kuwait: ICOP member, Mr. Hussain Khushaish said: "THE CRESCENT WAS SIGHTED AS EXPECTED EASILY EVEN BEFORE ACTUAL SUNSET. THE UNEXPECTED THING IS THAT THE CRESCENT DISAPPEARED NEARLY 20 MINUTES BEFOE ITS ACTUAL MOONSET AND THATS OF COURSE DUE TO HAZE AT THE LAST 4 DEGREES."

• Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Anwar Al Muhammad said: "Nice picture, the new crecent of Rabbie II, Jupiter, and Venus were clearly seen by naked eye after sun set in Wednesday 12 June. They are almost in the same plane (ecliptic).

• Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Aminu Lukuman said: "The crescent was seen in Lagos Island, Lagos State Nigeria on Wednesday 12, June 20202. Therefore the first day of this month begins on Thursday, 13 June 2002."

• Germany: ICOP member, Mr. Gerhard Ahmad Kaufmann mentioned that the sky was totally cloudy.

Wednesday 12 June:-

1. Singapore
2. Malaysia
3. Kuwait
4. Saudi
5. Jordan
6. Nigeria
7. USA
8. Guyana

Thursday 13 June:-

1. Iran
2. Morocco
3. South Africa