Moonsighting for Dhul-Qa'dah 1423
January 2, 2003 (Thursday):
Impossible to see the moon (Ru'yah)
January 3, 2003 (Friday):
Hussain Khushaish from Kuwait reported: Friday, 3 Jan 2003 we tried to sight the crescent but it was cloudy and hazy (humidity 60%). I could not sight the crescent even with binocular.
Rashid Motala from South Africa reported: The cresent moon was sighted on Friday, Jan 3 evening in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa (multiple sightings).
Kacem BANKIH of AMNIR, club of amateur astronomy from Beni Isguen, Ghardaïa, Algeria reported: On Jan 3, the new crescent was seen by three members of our club with binoculars when it was setting on the wastern horizon. This observation of this new crescent (age=20h59m) is a record for our club.
Muhammad Hafiz from Opa Locka, Florida reporetd: New Crescent observation on Friday, 3rd January, 2003 was impossible due to extensive rainy clouds on the horizon.
Javad Torabinejad from Richmond, Utah (ICOP member) reported: At 5:36 pm (Friday, Jan 03), I sighted the crescent moon in Richmond, UT (first with the aid of a pair of binoculars and immediately after by naked eye). It was very thin and the horns extended from 2 to 6:30 O'Clock.
Abdul Sattar Ridhan from San Jose reported: Today, Jan 3, I tried to see the Crescent after Maghrib; No Sighting. Unfortunately the Sky was very cloudy. I was hopeful this morning as there was beautiful sunshine, But toward Maghrib Sky was cloudy.
Gulamabbas A. Khakoo from Buena Park, CA reported: This evening of Jan 3, 2003 sighted the crescent here in Buena Park, California, Local time 5:35 p.m. The top horn of the crescent was just after 12 and bottom was between 7 & 8. The crescent was thin and I used binoculars to sight. The sky was partially cloudy.
Jim Stamm from Tucson, Arizona reported:
New Moon Crescent Observability =============================== January 2003 Time from new at moonrise/sunset = 28 hours 08 minutes Location = Tucson, Arizona (USA) Longitude = 110.9645 W Latitude = 32.4204 N Elevation = 842 meters Temperature = 71 degrees Fahrenheit Relative Humidity = 20 percent Atmospheric Pressure = 30.03 inches of mercury Local sunset at 5:31 p.m. (MST) 03 Jan. 2003 UT Time and Date of sunset = 00:31 04 Jan. 2003 Crescent first observed with the naked eye: Time = 5:47 p.m. (MST) 00:47 (UT) Altitude = 6 degrees Azimuth = 235 degrees Elongation of the Moon from Sun = 15 degrees Percent of surface that was lit = 1.8 percent Final observation with naked eye: Time = 6:25 p.m. (MST) 00:00 (UT) Altitude = 0.5 degree Azimuth = 240 degrees Elongation of the Moon from Sun = 0.0 degrees Position Angle of Bright Limb = 000.0 degrees Percent of surface that was lit = 0.00 percent Local moonset at 6:30 p.m. (MST) 03 Jan. 2003 UT Time and Date of moonset = 01:30 04 Jan. 2003 The crescent was immediately visible when I first searched at 05:47 p.m. (local - MST). Observer: Jim Stamm E-mail Address: JimStamm@Comcast.net
January 4, 2003 (Saturday):
Taalib Abdul-Malik from Damascus Syria reported: I sighted the moon here outside Damascus at 5:45PM. Sky conditions were very cloudy with fast moving clouds. It had been a rainy day so others may not have ventured forth to make the attempt.