Astronomical report on the conditions for sighting the Eid al-Adha crescent (Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH)

Arab Weather - The Islamic world will observe the crescent moon of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 AD. The crescent moon will be visible through a telescope in Central and Western Asia, most of Africa, and Europe. It will also be visible with the naked eye in large parts of the Americas. While the crescent moon can be seen in the Islamic world on Tuesday, it is expected that Wednesday, May 28, will be the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and that Friday, June 6, will be the first day of Eid al-Adha in most Islamic countries.

Regarding the position of the crescent moon on Tuesday, May 27, in some Arab and international cities, the surface calculations of the crescent moon at sunset are as follows: In Jakarta, the moon will set 9 minutes after sunset, at an age of 9 hours and 2 minutes. Sighting the crescent moon in Jakarta is not possible even with a telescope. In Abu Dhabi, the moon will set 38 minutes after sunset, at an age of 13 hours and 29 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 7.7 degrees. In Mecca, the moon will set 39 minutes after sunset, at an age of 14 hours and 17 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.1 degrees. Sighting the crescent moon in both Abu Dhabi and Mecca is possible only with a telescope. In Amman and Jerusalem, the moon will set 48 minutes after sunset, at an age of 14 hours and 46 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.4 degrees. In Cairo, the moon will set 47 minutes after sunset, at an age of 14 hours and 54 minutes, and its distance from the sun is 8.5 degrees. In Rabat, the moon sets 58 minutes after sunset, at a time when it is 17 hours old and 9.9 degrees away from the sun. Seeing the crescent moon in Amman, Jerusalem, Cairo, and Rabat is difficult with the naked eye and requires very clear skies.

To understand the meaning of these numbers, it is worth noting that the shortest period of a crescent that could be seen with the naked eye was 29 minutes, while the shortest age of a crescent that could be seen with the naked eye was 15 hours and 33 minutes. It is not sufficient for the crescent to be longer than these values for it to be seen, as the sighting of the crescent is related to other factors such as its angular distance from the sun and its distance from the horizon at the time of observation.

To learn about the results of crescent observations, please visit the website of the Islamic Crescent Sighting Project, affiliated with the International Astronomical Center (IAC), at www.AstronomyCenter.net. The project was established in 1998 and currently includes more than 1,500 members, including scientists and those interested in crescent observation and calendar calculations. The project encourages those interested in crescent observations worldwide to submit their observation results to the project via its website, where they are subsequently published after being verified and scrutinized.

The attached map shows the possibility of seeing the crescent moon of Dhu al-Hijjah on Tuesday, May 27, from all regions of the world, as follows:

- It is impossible to see the crescent moon from the areas in red because the moon sets before sunset and/or because the topocentric conjunction occurs after sunset.
- The crescent moon cannot be seen with a telescope or the naked eye from uncolored areas.
The crescent moon can only be seen using a telescope from the areas in blue.
The crescent moon can be seen through a telescope from the areas in magenta. It can also be seen with the naked eye if the atmosphere is completely clear and the observer is experienced.
The crescent moon can be seen with the naked eye from the areas highlighted in green.