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International Astronomical Center

ICOP

Visibility of Sha'ban Crescent
(1420 AH)

Last Updated 04 December at 20:25 UT

In this page:-

When to Observe ?

The geocentric new Moon will occur on Monday 08 October 1999, at 03:53 UT. The program Moon Calculator by Dr. Monzur Ahmed -according to Yallop's criterion- showed that the crescent will be visible by naked eyes on 08 November some where starting from Central America. So, countries west of this area (within the parabola) will be able to see the crescent on this day. However, using telescopes, the crescent could be seen in more eastern areas (West of Mauritania). On the other hand, countries outside the parabola will see the crescent by naked eyes on the next day (09 November). Consequently, arrange to observe the crescent after the sunset of 08 or 09 November. Kindly click on the below icon to see the visibility parabola as plotted by the program Moon Calculator

Results of seeing the crescent, and the first day of Sha'ban in different countries will be added here as we receive the reports from ICOP's members. If you wish to be a member in ICOP, or to know more about it, kindly click here.

Observing the Crescent

So far, the earliest sighting of the crescent was on Tuesday 09 November from Pakistan.

Monday 08 November

  • Jordan: 5 members of JAS tried to see the crescent using 10-inch telescope. Although the telescope is computerized and it was pointing exactly at the crescent, but the crescent was NOT seen.

  • Saudi: ICOP member, Mr. Saleh Al-Saab said: "Unfortunately I tried to see the crescent this evening but I could not because of the horizon was dusty, also the crescent was only 5.7 degrees above the horizon."

  • Nigeria: ICOP member, Mr. Alabi Isiaq said: "Since Monday (09/11/99) groups of people from different areas of Lagos were trying to sight the crescent, but not so reported to have seen it until Wednesday's (10/11/99) evening. Though the skies were clear on Tuesday and Monday, it wasn't sighted until Wednesday, even by naked eyes."

  • South Africa:

    • ICOP member, Mr. Hashim Salie said: "In Cape Town, the weather was clear, but no crescent was seen anywhere in South Africa."

  • Morocco: ICOP member, Dr. Hamid TOUMA said: "As you Know the New Moon was on the Monday 8 November 99 at 3'Oclock 54min in the Morning (AM). And it was impossible to observe the crescent in the evening of the same day because the crescent has only 14 hours of life. On Tuesday 9 November 99, we have observed clearly the crescent just after the Sunset. It was a large and beautiful crescent."

  • Canada: ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Farooq said: "At sunset the western horizon was cloudy therefore I was unable to observe the crescent."

Tuesday 09 November

  • Pakistan: ICOP member, Mr. Omer bin Abdul Aziz said: "Finally, I did manage to pick up the crescent moon. Although it was 30 Rajab anyway. I saw the moon around 15:40 local time. It was approx. 5 degrees above the horizon.. and barely skipped the cloudy smog and haze."

  • Iran: ICOP member, Mr. Asadollah Khoddam Mohammadi said: "The new moon was clearly visible by naked eye on the evening of Nov. 9, 17:30 local time (+3.5)."

    The First Day in Different Countries

    Thanks to ICOP member, Mr. Mohammad Murad, who helped in gathering most of the below information.

    Tuesday 09 November:-

    1. Saudi Arabia
    2. Jordan

    Wednesday 10 November:-

    1. Pakistan
    2. Iran
    3. Mauritius
    4. South Africa
    5. Morocco

    The Accuracy of The Astronomical Calculations

    To know about the accuracy of the astronomical calculations, then please click here


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