Moonsighting for Shawwal 1423
December 4, 2002 (Wednesday):
Today is solar eclipse. It is not possible to see the hilal in North America or any place east of it.
Hussain Khushaish from Kuwait reported: "in Kuwait city on Wednesday 4 Dec, a group of more than 250 persons with telescope and binoculars tried and could not see the crescent due to haze and clouds in the western sky. Actualy we could not see ths sun disk before our local sunset by 15 minutes which is more than our moon staying of 7 minutes."
Mohammad Odeh from Jordan reported: As you knew JAS had tried but could not observe the crescent of Shawwal on Wednesday 04 December from a plane, where we left Amman at 15:15 local time heading to south until we reach an area called Jorf Ad-Daraweesh, then to traveled nearly towards the North at an elevation of about 4000 meters above the mean sea level.
The advantage of observing from a plane is that at such high altitude, the the sky is much cleaner than it at the ground, where there is no smoke, haze, ...etc. Another important factor is that the atmosphere is thinner at high altitudes, thus the the sky appears darker, and so the contrast between the crescent and the sky at high altitude is easier than it at the ground.
Thank Allah, the trip was totally successful. The sky was superb and clear, nevertheless NO crescent was seen! We wonder if we at such high elevation with such clear and crystal sky were not able to see the crescent by binoculars, how would others saw it from the ground by naked eyes!!
The observers were:
- Oliver Behar
- Tareq Hadi
- Mohammad Odeh
- Tarek Katbeh (On the Ground)
Mahmood Essa from Mombasa, Kenya reported: "It was too cloudy to observe the new crescent this evening of Dec 4. Thus we will complete 30 days of Ramadhan tomorrow, Thursday, Dec 5 and insha Allah we shall celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Friday here in kenya."
Rashid Motala from South Africa reported: "There were no claims for sighting of the Hilaal for Shawwal this evening in S. Africa. There was 'pressure' from the public to sight the moon, because of the long fasts and hot days (and the fact that Saudi Arabia has declared Eid). So we will have Eid on Friday."
Sultan Hafiz reported from Guyana, that attemps were made to observe the New Crescent by himself and members of Rose Hall Town Masjid and Rose Hall Town Islamic Center on Wednesday, 4th December, 2002. The New Crescent was not seen in Guyana on this day
Muhammad Hafiz from Opa Locka, Florida reporetd: New Crescent observation in Opa Locka, Florida, USA on Wednesday, 4th December, 2002 was attempted yet no Hilal could be seen 8 hours after Saudi Arabia claimed to have seen the Hilal, if they claimed.
Javad Torabinejad from Logan, Utah (ICOP member) reported: "The sky over the western horizon was rather cloudy and hazy; thus, we did not attempt sighting the moon. Insha-Allah, we will fast tomorrow to complete the 30 days."
Gulamabbas A. Khakoo from Long Beach, CA reported: "Tried to sight the crescent today DEC 4, 2002 here in Long Beach, CA. local time 16:55 to 17:20 unable to sight. Condition was fair, slight haze."
Abdul-Rashid Abdullah from Oahu Hawaii reported: "On Dec 4, five Teams of at least 3 brothers each went to sight the Hilal all around the Leeward (west) side of Oahu and 1 team on Kauai. The skies were reasonably clear but there was no sighting of the Hilal."
December 5, 2002 (Thursday):
Hilal was easily visible in most places around the globe.
Abbas Vakil from Dubai reported: "Today, Thursday I saw the cresent in Dubai. It was quit low onthe horizon and was visible about 15 minutes after sunset."
Mushtaq Anwer Ali Rashid with Mr. Hasan Alradae from Yemen reported: "Today 5th December 2002, around 17:55 PM, after sunset, we sighted Shawwal Hilal at Hodeidah - Yemen, Sunset being at 17:38 PM."
Mahmood Essa from Mombasa, Kenya reported: " I am happy to report that the new crescent was easily sighted here in mombasa, kenya, on thursday 5/12/02 and thus tomorrow friday, 6/12/02 will be our first day shawwal in kenya."
Sultan Hafiz reported from Guyana, that they oberved the Hilal on Thursday, 5th December, 2002
Dr. Shirin Haque-Copilah from Trinidad, West Indies reported: "Today, Dec 5, there was a confirmed sighting of the hilal in Tobago by a group of 10 and two other independent parties. Trinidad was cloudy again and it was not seen here."
Muhammad Hafiz from Opa Locka, Florida reporetd: "I saw the Hilal on Thursday, 5th December, 2002 in Opa Locka, Florida, USA at 6:05 PM."
Javad Torabinejad from Logan, Utah (ICOP member) reported: "This evening (Thursday), we easly sighted the moon in Logan, UT. Khoda-hafez."