Moonsighting for Muharram 1426
February 8, 2005 (Tuesday):Impossible to see anywhere in the world. No one reported to have seen the moon.
Dr. Shabbir Ahmed (MCW member), Imam of Rooty Hill Mosque, Sydney (shabbir@muoa.org) reported: Not Seen
The hilaal of Muharram ul Haraam 1426 has not been sighted on 9.02.2005 any whare in Australia, therefore the moon-sighting committee of Australia has declared the month of Muharram will start on Friday, 11.02.2005.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: Not Seen
Muharramul Haram moon has not been sighted and first of Muharram will fall on Friday, Feb 11, says a Ruet-i-Hilal committee announcement which met here on Wednesday.
Hussain Khushaish (MCW member) from Kuwait reported: Not Seen
In Kuwait on Wednesday 9 Feb 2005, I could not sight the crescent even with 20*60 binocular. The sun disappeared at its actual sunset time at 17:33. The western horizon was very clear yet I could not see the crescent. The moon lag was 38 minutes, elongation 9.5 deg, altitude 6.6 deg, relative azimuth -6 deg and the age was 16.1 hours.
Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti (MCW member) from Oxford, UK reported: Not Seen
On the 29th day of Dhu l-Hijja, at our alternate site, our family tried to sight the crescent. Unfortunately, it was moderately cloudy in Oxford. The difference in setting times of the sun and moon over the local horizon [qaws al-makth] is 43 minutes. We prayed Maghrib and waited until the moonset, hoping that the atmospheric condition might improve but did not. By well into 'Isha' time, there have been no reports of any actual sighting from the East. We will therefore be completing [istikmal] the month of Dhu l-Hijja, and Awwal Muharram should start from tomorrow evening, Thursday the 11th of February.
Rashid Motala (MCW member) from Signal Hills, South Africa reported: Seen
The cresent moon was sighted this evening, only in Cape Town. It was a faint moon difficult to see, but was seen by
a few people. The weather was overcast in other parts of the country.
Ahmed Mohamed from Namibia reported: Not Seen
On Wednesday, 9 Feb 05 - four persons tried with naked eye, but no sightings. However, since we are neighbouring South Africa, Botswana and Angola, South Africa's sighting accepted.
Samy Khadem-Al-Charieh (MCW member) from Berlin, Germany reported: Not Seen
Yesterday, Feb 9, we had sunshine until 3:00pm but then later on the weather became bad and clouds came from the west.
It even started snowing! So after 4:30pm the sky was covered with clouds and there was no possibility to see anything.
So no sighting possibility and I am afraid today will be no better.
Bankih Kacem, (MCW member) from Beni Isguen, State Ghardaïa, Algeria reported: Seen
The Muharram 1426 crescent was seen from Merkich station, there were 14 presents in this observation. Sunset was 18:22 and by binoculars it was first seen at 18:44; 5 members saw it. With naked eye it was first seen at 18:50; 2 members saw it by naked eye. This observation is remarkable for our club AMNIR.
Muhammad Hafiz (MCW member) from Miami, Florida reporetd: Seen
I tried to observe the Hilaal on Wednesday, 9th February, 2005 after sunset at the University of Miami Medical Campus (Miami, Florida). The Hilaal was observed at 6:40 PM after I went up 7 floors to the roof of the west plaza parking lot. The Hilaal was very thin and the horns were pointing to a 3 o'clock to 7 o'clock position. Just below the Hilaal the
entire horizon was covered with rainy clouds.
Javad Torabinejad (MCW member) from Blacksburg, VA reported: Not Seen
The western horizon was mostly cloudy this evening (Wednesday). I tried too sight the moon in a few clear patches with no success.
Ruth Jeffery (MCW member) from Houston TX reported: Not Seen
The skies in Houston were completely overcast on Feb. 9, preventing us from any possible crescent sighting.
Paul Burnham (MCW member) from Chino Valley, Arizona reported: Seen
I am pleased to report that the crescent moon was sighted from Chino Valley, AZ on this evening of February 9. Initial sighting was at 18:15 MST through thin cloud using binoculars. The crescent came clear of clouds by 18:19, but was not visible without optical aid until 18:24. Thereafter, clearing clouds and darkening sky permitted visual following until local moonset.
Shagufta Ahmad Qadri (MCW member) from San Jose, California reported: Seen
Alhamdulillah, I sighted the Muharram crescent clearly in San Jose. It was fine, but very clear. I saw it at approximately 6pm on Wednesday Feb 9, 2005 and it was in the western horizon a little above eye level for at least 20 minutes; the two ends of the crescent pointing towards the left.
Also, I received a phone call from Mr. Zahid Chaudhry Qadri at around 6:20pm that he too sighted the Muharram crescent in the city of Burlingame, CA. He too said that the crescent was very fine, but clear and the two pointed ends of the crescent were towards the left.
Fatima Sharaaz Qadri (MCW member) from Sacramento, California reported: Seen
We want to inform you that I, my son Yaseen Khan (11 yrs), and my daughter Sahar Khan (6 Yrs) saw the moon for the month of
Muharram in Sacramento, CA at 6:14 pm on Feb the 9th 2005. We were able to see the moon with the naked eye.
HiMY SYeD (MCW member) from Fremont, California reported: Seen
27 minutes ago from night now, that is at 6:03 pm PST, I saw the crescent moon. I also brought my two nephews, Nazar Syed and Bashar Syed and their friend Junaid, we all witnessed the Muharram Moon for 1426 with our naked eye at 6:05 pm PST. The sky above the horizon is cloudy, but above that, the sky is cloud free. I spent about 5 minutes looking for the moon fearing it was behind the clouds already. Because of the thinness, it took that long to spot it.
Gulamabbas A. Khakoo (MCW member) from Long beach, California reported: Seen
Sighted the crescent of Muharram 1426 on Feb. 9th, 2005 local time 5:45pm. The sighting was easy the top horn of the crescent was between 12 & 1 and bottom horn between 7 & 8 closer to 7.
Isa AbdulBari Alsup from Burbank (Los Angeles), California reported: Seen
The hilal was observed with naked eye at 5:55 PM in clear sky and eyelash shaped crescent was observed about 7 degrees above horizon.
Dr. Youssef Ismail (MCW member) from Pescadero State Beach, CA reported: Seen
I saw and photographed the new crescent of Muharram 1426 this evening on February 9th. Location Pescadero State Beach, CA at 5:55pm 12 minutes after local sunset, nearest verifiable town is Pescadero CA. It was approximately 1 hand span to about 1.5 hand spans above the horizon and at approximately at Azimuth 230 degrees Magnetic. I was the only adult present. Photo is forthcoming in a couple of days insha Allah.
February 10, 2005 (Thursday):
Mohamad ibnu Maleki from Pontian, Johore, Malaysia reported: Seen
I, didn't see the Muharram's cresent on Wednesday, Feb 9 at Pontian Kechil beach,Pontian,Johore,Malaysia. On Thursday,Feb 10, I saw Muharram's cresent after Maghrib. So that, 1st Muharram will be on Friday, Feb 11. Allahuakbar!