The Jordanian Astronomical Society confirmed that sighting the crescent moon of Ramadan on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, will be “impossible,” whether by the naked eye, telescope, or astronomical imaging techniques, in Jordan as well as in nearby and distant regions. This indicates that the first day of the holy month of Ramadan is expected to fall on February 19.
اضافة اعلان
The Society’s Director General, Ammar Al-Sakaji, stated that astronomical data in Jordan for the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH indicate that the central conjunction will occur at 15:03, while the apparent (topocentric) conjunction will take place at 16:47 on the same day, according to Jordan time. The moon’s setting after sunset will last only about three minutes, while the age of the moon will be approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes centrally, and about an hour and a half topocentrically. The altitude difference will reach 14 arcminutes, the angular elongation will be one degree and 14 arcminutes, the illuminated fraction of the moon will not exceed 0.01%, and the crescent’s thickness will be practically close to zero.
He explained that, based on these astronomical parameters—which all fall below the global Danjon limit—sighting the crescent is impossible, whether by the naked eye, telescope, or astronomical imaging techniques, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and in nearby and distant regions alike.
According to all classical and modern crescent-visibility criteria—including the Babylonian criterion, the Indian criterion, Bruin’s criterion, Fotheringham’s criterion, Maunder’s criterion, Ibn Tariq’s criterion, Ilyas’s criterion, Alawi’s criterion, Yallop’s criterion, the South African Observatory criterion, and the Odeh criterion (adopted by the Astronomical Society)—all confirm the impossibility of sighting the crescent on that day. Visibility ranges from impossible to not possible across all regions of the Arab and Islamic worlds, whether by the naked eye, telescope, or even astronomical imaging techniques, Al-Sakaji added.
He further noted that an annular/partial solar eclipse will occur on Tuesday, February 17, at 12:56 p.m. Jordan time. However, the eclipse will not be visible from Jordan. The eclipse will coincide with sunset in parts of eastern and central regions of the world up to western Asia. A solar eclipse represents a visible conjunction that can be observed with the naked eye (using appropriate protective means), which constitutes clear evidence of the impossibility of sighting the crescent at the time of the eclipse or even several hours afterward.
The accompanying maps based on the Odeh criterion illustrate the visibility of the Ramadan crescent on Tuesday, February 17, and Wednesday, February 18, across different regions of the world. Crescent sighting is impossible in areas marked in red due to the moon setting before the sun and/or the occurrence of the apparent conjunction after sunset.
In uncolored regions, crescent sighting is not possible either by telescope or the naked eye. Crescent sighting is possible only with a telescope in areas marked in blue.
The criterion further indicates that crescent sighting is possible using a telescope in areas marked in pink, and it may be visible to the naked eye under perfectly clear atmospheric conditions and when observed by an experienced observer. Crescent sighting by the naked eye is possible in areas marked in green.
