Moonsighting for Jumada-al-Oola 1439
1439 AH
 MUH  SFR  RBA  RBT  JMO  JMT  RJB  SHB  RMD  SHW  ZQD  ZHJ 

Al urjoonul qadeem of Rabi-at-Thani 1439: January 16, & January 15, 2018

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Rabi-at-Thani 1439 AH), January 15, 2018 (not the new moon to start Jumada-al-Oola), (Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Dr. Ayyub Patel from Abha, Saudi Arabia): This is decreasing moon that was sighted in Arabia after Fajr on Januar 15, 2018. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.




















New Crescent Moon of Jumada-al-Oola 1439:

The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on January 17, 2018 (Wednesday) at 2:17 UT. On January 17, the moon can be seen by telescope in Americas. On January 18, the crescent can be easily seen in almost everywhere in the world. (See visibility below).

The earliest reported binocular sighting was on January 17, Wednesday from California USA. The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent by naked eye was on January 18, Thursday from Kabul Afghanistan.

January 17, 2018 (Wednesday):

  • Australia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Engr Manzoor A Mian from Melbourne, VIC reported: As I am part of Moonsighting Committee Australia, I want to inform you that in the whole of Australia the crescent is not sighted on 17/1/2018 Wednesday. Therefore, Moonsighting Committee Australia declared that we will complete 30 days and the 1st day of Jumada al-Awwal in Australia will be on Friday, 19th of January, 2018.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today Wednesday, 17th of January 2018, the Hilaal of Jumada al-Oula has NOT been sighted anywhere in Australia, therefore the Moonsighting Committee of Australia has declared that the 30 days of the month of Rabi'ul Thaani will be completed and the month of Jumada al-Oula will commence from Friday 19th of January 2018.

  • Morocco:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Zakaria Guelzim from Rabat reported: The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of Morocco comunicated that they observed the crescent of the month of jumada I 1439 after Maghrib of Wednesday, 29 Rabii II 1438 and contacted all the observers of Islamic affairs in the Kingdom and the Royal Armed Forces units that participated in the observation of the crescent. They all assured that it's vision was not proven. Thus, the month of Rabii II will complete thirty days, and the beginning of the month of Jumada II 1439 is Friday, 19 January 2018.

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: On January 17, 2018, we report no sighting by naked eye or binoculars even though its the 30th of Rabi al-Thani 1439.

  • South Africa:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Wednesday 17th January 2018, the Hilaal was NOT sighted in South Africa. Therefore Jumad-ul-Ula 1439 will commence on Friday 19th January 2018 in South Africa.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Abdurrazak Ebrahim from Cape Town reported: On Wednesday, January 17, 2018, no crescent moon was sighted in South Africa. The 1st Jumadal Ula will correspond with Friday, 19 January 2018.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: The Hilal was not sighted in 17th January 2018 in tiny island of Zanzibar; the sky was generally very clear with little trace of clouds. 30 days will be completed of Rabil at Thani 1439 AH. The first day of Jumada-al-Oola 1439 AH will be Friday 19th January 2018.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: The crescent moon to commence the month of Jumaadal Uulaa 1439 AH was looked for after the sunset of Wednesday 17th January 2017. Reports from all committees locally and regional confirm that the moon was NOT SIGHTED. We have accepted these reports and has declared that the month of Rabiiul Thaanii 1439 AH will complete 30 days and the 1st night of Jumaadal Uulaa 1439 AH is the night of Thursday 18th January 2017, and the first day of Jumaadal Uulaa 1439 AH is the day of Friday 19th January 2017.

  • UK:


    1. Not Seen: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: Moon was not sighted anywhere in the world east of UK. Wifaqul Ulama have therefore decided that 30 days of Rabiut-Thani were completed and Jumadal-Ula 1439 will begin from Friday, the 19th of January 2018.

  • USA:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Wednesday, January 17, 2018), the crescent moon was not sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived late at my sighting location at 5:52 pm EST (sunset: 5:30 pm). Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I scanned a partly cloudy and hazy west southwestern horizon with no success. I ended the session at 6:10 pm (moonset: 6:13 pm). At 5:55 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 15.8 F, 4.8 F, 62%, and 30.25 in, respectively.

    2. Not Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America reported: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announces that Thursday, January 18th, 2018, will be the last day of Rabi al-Thani, 1439 A.H. and that Friday, January 19th, 2018, will be the first day of the month of Jamadi al-Awwal, 1439 A.H. for the entire region of North America. This determination is based on the fact that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye at sunset on Wednesday, January 17th, 2018, in any region of North America.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that there was NO sighting of the new crescent for the month of Jamadi-ul-Awwal in the USA on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Therefore, upon completion of 30 days, FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2018 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Jamadi-ul-Awwal, 1439 AH.

    4. Not Seen: MCW member Mr Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago IL reported: Hilal of Jamadi-ul Awwal 1439H was NOT SIGHTED at anyplace in North America on the 29th of Rabi-us Sani 1439H. As such Rabi-us Sani will complete 30 days and the 1st of Jamadi-ul Awwal 1439H will be on Friday, January 19, 2018.

    5. Seen w/binoculars: Mr Norm Vargas from Mt. Wilson Observatory, CA reported: The crescent moon was seen by optical aid only on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Exact location: The main parking lot at Mt. Wilson Observatory, CA, USA 1700m above sea level. The parking lot offers expansive views to the west and is an excellent location for viewing sunsets and new moons. Exact time: It was first seen in binoculars at 5:33 pm and followed in a spotting scope and binoculars until 5:45 when it sank into clouds. Altitude of the moon: The horizon was indistinct with clouds and the moon's height was not measured. It's height was calculated to be about 4� above the horizon. Location of the moon: The moon was found above and to the left of the sun, but 20 minutes after sunset. Mooncalc 6.0 showed it to be nearly directly above the sunset point at the time of first sighting. Orientation of the moon: The moon faced the 5 o'clock position. The tips of the crescent extended from the 3:30 to 6:15 positions. The arc was very small due to low contrast. Crescent movement: The moon set down and to the right. Sighting was with optical aid by one adult, me. The contrast of the moon was poor with the thin clouds covering the horizon and it could not be spotted by naked eye.

January 18, 2018 (Thursday):

  • Afghanistan:

    1. Seen: MCW member Engr M Ibrahim Mayar from Kabul reported: Today Thursday,January 18, 2018, I could see the Rabi ul-Thani , 1439 Helal from my resident in Kabul by 10X50 biacular at 17:40 local time the orientation of crescent horn was about (2 to 8 O clock) ,however ,Kabul sky was rather cloudy esp. west horizon.

  • Chile:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: On January 18, I just saw the new moon at 21:15 local time.

  • Ghana:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Malik Salifu Shaban from Garu Bawku reported: The crescent for Rabi'l Thani 1439 was seen at Garu in the upper east of Ghana at 6:05 local time. I saw the moon when I was going for magrib prayers today 18th January 2018.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Not Seen (Cloudy): MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory in Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java reported: The new crescent of Jumadal Ula 1439 AH was not seen on Thursday, 18 January 2018 from Assalaam Observatory at PPMI Assalaam Sukoharjo by my students of CASA and neither at Rowasiya Observatory, Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia. The sky was totally cloudy and rainy. However, the 1st day of Jumadal Ula 1439 AH in Imdonesia is on Thursday, January 18, 2018 according to MABIMS Calculation.

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: we were on our way from abha to makkah. we saw the hilal at 6:30 pm local time from a place called Mudhailif 300km south east of Jeddah on 18th Jan 2018.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Ishmael Khan from Princes Town, Trinidad reported: The crescent moon for Jamada Al Awaal 1439 was sighted on the night of Thursday 18th January 2018 being the first night of the month of Jamada Al Awaal 1439. Therefore Friday the 19th January is the fist day of Jamada Al Awaal. The crescent moon horns were from 3:00 o�clock to 9:00 o� clock.

  • UK:


    1. Seen: MCW member Mr Modoris Ali from Cradley Heath (near Birmingham) reported: I arrived at Mosque at 4:30pm,today (Thursday 18 January 2018).Kids Arabic lessons starts at 4:30pm at Mosque.I prayed Maghrib at Mosque,then I walked back home.When I was walking back home,during 10 minutes walking ,I had seen the moon at 4:50pm.When I got home, I did see the moon at 5:00pm.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: Today (Thursday, January 18, 2018), the crescent moon was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). In the afternoon, at 2:34 pm EST, using a pair of binoculars, I was able to see the crescent. The crescent's horns were at 2:30 and 5:30 O'clock (2:30;4:00;5:30). For a short period, I tried sighting it with naked eye with no success. At 2:30 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 30.9 F, 10.4 F, 42%, and 30.18 in, respectively.
      Later in the evening at 5:29, I arrived at my sighting location (the Blacksburg High School); sunset was at 5:31 pm. Using a pair of binoculars, I looked for the crescent in a clear west southwest horizon. My first binocular sighting was at 5:32 pm and shortly after followed by a naked eye sighting at 5:33 pm. The crescent was easy to see with its horns at 2:45 and 7:30 O'clock (2:45;5:00;7:30). I changed locations to capture a few images. At 6:18 pm, I left for home (moonset: 7:09 pm). At 5:35 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 32.0 F, 6.8 F, 35%, and 30.18 in, respectively.

    2. Seen: Mr Norm Vargas from Mt. Wilson Observatory, CA reported: The crescent was first seen by naked eye from Mt. Wilson Observatory, CA, on Thursday evening at 5:04 pm. Sunset time for Los Angeles was 5:10 pm. The crescent was seen easily in blue sky between thin high clouds. Its position relative to the sun was not noted as I did not have a clear horizon from this observation point. It was observed later from 5:30 to 5:45 from a clear location with a spotting scope and the tips of the crescent were at 2:30 and 8 o'clock positions.

top Back to Top