Moonsighting for Ramadan 1424
October 25, 2003 (Saturday):
Taalib Abdul-Malik (Moonsighting.com member) from Damascus, Syria reported: As expected nothing seen here outside Damascus, Syria. Mostly clear sky.
Riyaad (Moonsighting.com member) from Trinidad reported: We did not see the moon tonight (Oct 25) and the Central Moonsighting Committee of Guyana (CMCG, representing the majority of Islamic organizations and scholars here and holding a Hemispheric Moonsighting position) has announced that Ramadan in Guyana will be observed from Monday Oct 27.
Muhammad Hafiz (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from Opa Locka, Florida reporetd: No Hilal was observed after sunset on Saturday, 25th October, 2003 in Opa-Locka, Florida USA .
Hadi Jaafar (Moonsighting.com member) from Fort Collins, CO reported: I tried to sight the moon here in Fort Collins between 6 P.M. and 6:20 P.M. local time tonight with a pair of binoculars. The moon could not be seen. Sky was clear, Venus visible. Just for fun, please find attached two pictures of Venus taken at around 6:15 with an 8*42 digital camera binocular.
Paul Burnham from Chino Valley, AZ reported: As predicted, negative results were obtained in attempting to sight the new moon from Chino Valley, AZ on the 25th October.
Javad Torabinejad (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from Richmond Utah reported: AsSalaamuAlaikum; This evening (Saturday, 25th of October), using a pair of 7X50 binoculars, I tried to sight the moon in Richmond (Utah) with no success. There was no problem sighting Venus, however.
Anwar Karim from American Samoa (Moonsighting.com member) reported: Unfortunately, it was rather cloudy in the lower horizon. We could not see the moon. We will try again on Sunday night.
October 26, 2003 (Sunday):
Zainal Abiden Bin Hani from Johor Bahru, Malaysia reported: I and my friend (13 friends) from Johor Bahru, Malaysia saw the hilal on October 26 with naked eye but the hilal was very thin and difficult to see with naked eye. We also use binocular and another 2 friends saw the hilal with binocular only.
Abdullah Mustafa (Moonsighting.com member) from Southern Hungary reported: I tried to sight the Hilaal of Ramadan in Southern Hungary with no success. The horizon was partly cloudy, so it was impossible to see Hilaal.
Taalib Abdul-Malik (Moonsighting.com member) from Damascus, Syria reported: Outside Damascus, Syria with mostly clear skies with slight thin clouds near the area of sunset, we did not see the crescent. No news as yet if the fast begins Monday here.
Yunus Ali from SW England reported:
Hello, I am an amature astronomer with a good view of the western horizon from SW england.
Date of search: 26 Oct 2003 ----- Time of search: 1700-1745 GMT
I have scanned the horizon with telescope and binoculars and have not been able to sight the new moon.
Gulam Abbas Vakil (Moonsighting.com member) from Dubai reported: The horizon was full of clouds hence it was difficult to view the crescent
Hussain Khushaish (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from Kuwait reported: In Kuwait on sunday 26 oct 2003 I could sight the crescent only with binocular at 5:25 pm till 5:40 pm with difficulty because of haze at the last 3-4 degrees. Venus was seen easely even before our local sunset which was at 5:08 pm. Ramadan Mobarek
Dr. Reza Pazhouhesh (Physics Dept, Birjand Univ, Birjand, Iran) reported: On sunday October 26, 2003 the The crescent of moon were seen using two Teodolit binocular in Birjand city of Iran. Here are our result:
Latitude= 32d, 53.078' Longitude=59d, 09.539' Hight = 1471 pressure= 1450 Temperature = 21 Time zone = 3.50 The crescent was seen from 17 to 17:11 (local time); We measured : azimuth of moon= 245d, 34' altitude of moon= 4d, 29' Observers were: Dr. Reza Pazhouhesh (Physics Dept, Birjand Univ, Birjand, Iran) Dr. Hamid Naseri (Faculty of engineering & Technology, Birjand, Iran) Mr. Saeed Naseri
Rashid Motala (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from South Africa reported: The crescent moon was sighted in several places in S. Africa this evening. Ramadaan Mubaruk to all of you. May Allah Most High accept all our Ibadah, and shower His Mercy and His Blessing on the Ummah.
Dr. Shirin Haque (Moonsighting.com member) from Trinidad reported: On October 26, the evening sky was crystal clear...and the moon with venus gracing its side was quite a sight to behold - sorry i did not photograph it! Ramadan mubarak!
Sultan Hafiz (Moonsighting.com member) from Guyana reported: The members of the Rose Hall Town Masjid and Rose Hall Town Islamic Center attempted Hilaal observation on Saturday, 25th October, 2003, after sunset in Guyana. No Hilaal was observed proving once more the accuracy of the calculation use in the Islamic Hejric Calendar. The Hilaal was observed by the members of the Rose Hall Town Masjid and Rose Hall Town Islamic Center on Sunday, 26th October, 2003 at 6:00 pm with no difficulty. The first day of fasting for the entire Guyana begins on Monday, 27th October, 2003 in accordance with the Islamci Hejric Calendar and sighting of the Hilaal.
Farid Ahmed from barbados reported: This is to inform u that the the crescent moon was sighted in Barbados on Sunday evening with first visual at approximately 5:45 pm. Interms of description is was a very thin moon but the crescent was very long with a star just above it to the right.
Muhammad Hafiz (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from Opa Locka, Florida reporetd: I tried to oberve the Hilaal after sunset on Sunday, 26th October, 2003 in Opa-Locka, Florida USA. The Hilaal was seen with no difficulty at 6:15 pm.
Paul Burnham from Chino Valley, AZ reported:
From Chino Valley, AZ observing on 26 October. Weather excellent; Observed the New Moon with Binoculars from 5:19 PM MST
Local sunset at 5:36 PM MST
Seen visually from 5:48 PM MST
The prediction translates to reality once again.
Gulamabbas A. Khakoo (ICOP & Moonsighting.com member) from Long Beach, CA reported: This Sunday evening of 26th Oct, 2003 tried to sight the crescent here in Long Beach, CA. using a binoculars and a telescope as well but unsuccessful from 5:15 pm to 5:50 pm. Very heavy smoke due to fire around the outskirts of Los Angeles and than very thick cloud moved into the sighting area.
Rashid Abdul El Malik from Sonoma CA, reported: I was traveling from Sonoma CA on Sunday 26th around Maghrib prayer. I spotted the crescent. I was traveling South and the position of the moon appeared to be to the west.
Abdul Sattar Ridhan (Moonsighting.com member) from San Jose reported: Assalmo Alykum! We have seen the Crescent Of Ramadan here in San Jose on Sunday October 26, 2003 6:24 PM our Time. ( Moon was there till 6:40 PM) From Our Masjid Islamic Center of San Jose, California. There were 10 People present Including Imam of Masjid Hafiz Tahir, My Self, Mohammed Azizuddin, Mohammed Rizwan, Noman and 5 other people, Including KRON TV Repoter ( San Francisco's ) NBC Channel.
Dr. Suhir from Sacramento CA reported: I just wanted to mention that on the evening of Sunday, October 26, 2003, several members of my community in Sacramento and Fresno, CA reported sighting the new moon in the very clear western sky. There were probably many other sightings in this country, all confirming Monday, October 27th as the 1st of Ramadan, InshAllah.