Moonsighting for Dhul-Hijjah 1423
February 1, 2003 (Saturday): NO SIGHTING
Dr. Saleh Al Saab (Previous head of Astronomy and Geophysics Institute at KACST), (Consultant and Member of the 6 Official Saudi Hilal Sighting Committees of Saudi Arabia established by the Crown Prince/Shura Council in 1419 AH) reported: The 6 Official Saudi Hilal Sighting Committees from Makkah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, Tabuk and Asir; attempted Hilal observation on the evening of Friday, January 31st, 2003 and on Saturday, February 1st, 2003. The Hilal was not seen by individuals and collective members of the 6 Committees under clear skies using naked eyes, telescopes and binoculars.
Rashid Motala from South Africa reported: The crescent moon for Dhul-Hijjah was not sighted in S. Africa on Feb. 1, 2003 (Saturday).
Jim Stamm, a professional astronomer from Tucson Arizona reported non-sighting as follows:
February 1, 2003: Time from new at sunset = 14 hours 09 minutes
I was NOT able to see the crescent, even through a telescope.
Javad Torabinejad from Logan, Utah (ICOP member) reported: The sky was cloudy here in northern Utah and thus no moonsighting was attempted.
February 2, 2003 (Sunday):
Hussain Khushaish from Kuwait reported: On Sunday 2 Feb 2003 , I was able to sight the crescent only with 20*60 binocular fixed on tripod-with difficulty -our local sunset was at 17:25 & moonset at 18:23. First binocular sighting was at 17:40 (that's 15 minutes after sunset ) untill 18:00 (that's 23 minutes before moonset )& that's of course due to the fine dust & humidity & haze at western horizon.
Mr. AliReza Mehrani from Esfahan, Iran reported:
New Moon Crescent Observation
Date: February 2, 2003
Time from new at Sunset = 27 hours 17 minutes
Location: Adib Astronomical Society, Esfahan, IRAN
Longitude: 51:41 E
Latitude: 32:38 N
Elevation: 1500 meters
Time zone: +3.5
Sunset at 05:20 p.m. (LT) (behind high mountains)
Crescent first observed through 15x80 binoculars:
Time = 05:40 p.m. (LT)
Crescent first observed with the naked eye:
Time = 05:50 p.m. (LT)
Final observation with naked eye:
Time = 06:15 p.m. (LT)
Final observation with binoculars:
Time = 06:15 p.m. (LT)
Mahmood Essa, ICOP Member, from Mombasa, Kenya reported: I am happy to let you know that I was able to observe the Thul Hijjah crescent quite easily this evening of 2/02/03, so tomorrow Feb 3, will be our first day of the month and thus insha'Aallah, Eid-al-adha will be celebrated here in Kenya on Wednesday Feb 12, barring those who usually follow Saudi Arabia.
Javad Torabinejad from Logan, Utah (ICOP member) reported: On Feb 3, it was after the sunset when my wife, daughter, and I went to Richmond, UT. We went there to locate the place where the moon was supposed to set (there was a clear streak, almost a moon diameter)! A few minutes before 7 p.m., the lower part of the moon appeared in that opening. We kept watching until the whole diameter of the moon filled that opening and the moon set around 7 p.m.
Gulamabbas A. Khakoo from Buena Park, CA reported: Sighted the crescent this evening of Sunday, Feb 2nd, to the left side of the Sunset, local time 5:33pm here in Buena Park, California. The top horn of moon was between 12 & 1, the bottom horn was between 7& 8.