Moonsighting for Muharram 1442
1442 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Dhul-Hijjah 1441: August 19, and August 18, 2020

On right is the old Crescent Moon of Zul-Hijjah 1441 AH), August 18, 2020. (Photo on the right is provided by MCW member Mr AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory, Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia. This waning crescent was captured 15 minutes before sunrise, on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 about 15 minutes before sunrise. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.








New Crescent Moon of Muharram 1442:
The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on August 19, 2020 (Wednesday) at 2:42 UT.
On August 19, the crescent may only be visible in Central and South Americas with difficulty and in Polynesian Islands easily. On August 20, it can be seen in almost the whole world. (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on August 19 from Kapad Beach Kozhikode, Kerala, India.

August 19, 2020 (Wednesday):

  • Bangladesh:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Fakhrul Islam from Dhaka reported: The waxing crescent was NOT seen in my location (Dhaka North City, Bangladesh) on 19 August 2020 Wednesday after evening. The sky was cloudy after Maghrib time. Time of sighting effort was between 6:30 and 7:20 BST (Bangladesh Standard Time). I was trying to observe waxing crescent and some constellations with my telescope (Celestron - AstroMaster 90EQ Refractor Telescope) with the help of planetarium software, Stellarium. In Bangladesh, Today is 28 Zu al-Hijjah 1441 AH, while in Saudi Arabia�s Islamic date is 29 Zu al-Hijjah 1441 AH on the basis of Umm al-Qura Calendar.
      Islamic Foundation Bangladesh is the recognized authority of Bangladesh for Islamic date reckoning. This organization gives importance on naked eye sightings of waxing crescents in Bangladeshi land area only. So, in this organization, there is no importance of global waxing crescent sighting with the help of telescope and Rader or infrared telescope news and any astronomical calculation. But a large number on people of Bangladesh follow the news of global waxing crescent sightings and Umm al-Qura Calendar of Saudi Arabia. They will celebrate Islamic new year tomorrow (August 20, 2020, Thursday) and will reckon 1 Muharram 1442 AH.

  • Chile:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muhammad Sohail from Iquique reported: Today, August 19, in Coquimbo the city of Chile the moon of Muharam is not sighted although they sky was quite clear.

  • Germany:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Khaled Shehab from Crailsheim reported: Today, Wednesday, 19.08.2020 I have 29 Duhl Hijja. I did all my best to see the moon with the binocular from 20:44 until 21:11 but I could not see it. Our local sunset time was 20:33. The sky was not clear. Really it was bad condition to see it.

  • India:


    1. Seen: MCW member Rasheed Usman, Kozhikode, Kerala reported: Please be informed that the hilal of Muharram sighted today Wednesday August 19, at about 7pm by 5 persons at Kapad Beach Kozhikode, Kerala as conveyed by Qazi of Kapad. All the Qazis of the State declared beginning of Hijra Year 1442 AH from 20th August 2020.
      Explanation by Moonsighting.com for this sighting by 5 persons:
      Look at the calculations below: 28 minutes lag between moonset and sunset. Age 10.8 hours; Elongation 7.6 degrees. These parameters make it possible to be seen by telescope. Remember that the moon was exactly above the sun as ARCL and ARCV both are 7.6 degrees. This makes it possible even if the Elongation (ARCL) is less that 8 degrees (which is considered normal for ordinary circumstances.       If the sighting was with naked eye, there could be an explanation that on the Western horizon, there was Arabian Sea and no city lights, and favorable pressure temperature and humidity conditions, which may make it possible to be seen with naked eye. 
      Kozhikode Kerala INDIA  TZ= 5.5          LATITUDE= 11:15N          LONGITUDE=  75:46E
Muharram 1442 AH                               <---- Moon's Position @ BestTime ---->
                                               Moon  GC.  GC.  HDFS  TC.  Cresc Cresc
    (UT)    International Sunset  Lag  Moonset Age  ARCL ARCV  DAZ   Alt  Width Horns
Moon Birth       Date      Hr:Mn  Hr:Mn Hr:Mn   Hrs  Deg  Deg  Deg   Deg  arcmn Shape
 2:41UT  Aug 19, 2020(WED) 18:44  0:28  19:12  10.8  7.6  7.6  0.7N  2.7   0.14 4 - 8

  • Indonesia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory reported: The new cescent of Muharram 1442 AH was NOT SEEN on Wednesday, August 19, 2020 from Rowasiya Observatory at Bendo Ketitang Juwiring Klaten Central Java Indonesia even by Telescope. However, the 1st of Muharram 1442 AH in Indonesia will start on Thursday, August 20, 2020 according to the Imkan Rukyat Calculation.

  • Kenya:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muhammad Abubakar Said from Mombasa reported: Today the 19th of August/ 29th Dhul Hijjah, the sky was clear (cloud cover 12%) but I was not able to see the crecsent with naked eyes nor with a binocular (Pentax 8�40).

  • Saudi Arabia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Abdul Kadir Mulla from Jeddah reported: Today, August 19, moon was not sighted in Jeddah KSA. Sky was clear, but I was unable to observe new crescent moon. We waited till moon set time 7.08PM.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Ayyub Patel from Abha reported: Today, august 19, according to the UQC it was the 29th of Dhul Qadah and we report no naked sye sighting of the Muaharram crescent

    3. Seen: MCW member Rasheed Usman, Kozhikode, Kerala reported for Saudi Arabia: News from Jeddah: Hilal of Muharram sighted by astronomical observatory of Majma University at Hutha Sudais on Wednesday August 19th evening.

  • Trinidad and Tobago:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Umar Abdullah from Bon Accord, Tobago reported: Today, Wednesday, 19th August 2020, after sunset we looked for the new moon of Muharram 1442 AH. The moon was NOT SIGHTED. Therefore the month of Dhul Hijjah, 1441 will complete 30 days. Hence the 1st night of Muharram 1442 would be the night of Thursday 20th August 2020 and the first day of Muharram 1442 would be Friday 21th August 2020.
      Location: lat: 10 35 long: 61 21: Time of Sunset: 18:21: Pressure: 1005 mb: Temperature: 27 �C: Relative humidity: 80%.

  • UK:


    1. Not Seen: Wifaqul Ulama Administrator of Britain reported: The Hilaal for Muharram 1442 was NOT sighted in the designated zone for United Kingdom which also includes Morocco. Therefore, the Islamic month of Dhu al-?ijjah will complete 30 days and Mu?arram 1442 will begin after sunset on Thursday, the 20th of August 2020. The first day of the new Islamic year will be on Friday, the 21st of August 2020. The day of Ashurah (10th Mu?arram) will be on Sunday 30th August.

  • USA:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Wednesday, Aug 19, 2020), the crescent moon was sighted in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). I arrived at my sighting location at 8:03 pm EDT (sunset: 8:10 pm). The western horizon was mostly cloudy and very hazy. Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I started looking for the crescent. The first binocular sighting of the crescent moon was at around 8:20 pm. The crescent was very thin; I could not see it with naked eye and soon disappeared behind clouds. Later, it reappeared in a clearing close to the horizon at 8:45 pm (moonset: 8:58 pm). The horns were approximately at 2:30 and 6:30 O'clock (2:30;4:30;6:30). I left the site at 8:50 pm when the crescent was no longer visible. At 8:15 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 71 F, 67 F, 86%, and 30.05 in, respectively. The attached pictures show the sky condition in the western horizon; I was unable to capture the crescent's image.

    2. Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announced: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that the first day of Muharram, 1442 A.H. will be on Thursday, August 20th, 2020, for the cities on and below the curve starting from New York City, passing through Detroit, Chicago, and continuing to Seattle (orange and red areas in the diagram below):
      Friday, August 21st, 2020, for all other cities and Canada (in the yellow, blue areas, and beyond, as shown in the diagram below.) This determination is based on the fact that there were verified sightings of the crescent moon by the naked eye at sunset on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020, in Houston, Texas.

    3. Seen: MCW member Mohamedraza H.Janmohamed from Sanford FL reported: The Moon-sighting Sub-committee wishes to inform the community that based on the confirmed sighting of the new crescent on the evening of Wednesday, August 19, 2020. In Houston, TX. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 is established as the 1st Day of Mahe Muharram, 1442 AH. FOR FLORIDA.

    4. Seen w/Binoculars only: MCW member Mirza Shahid Basravi from Irvine CA reported: I and my wife saw the new crescent with my 7 x 35 binoculars at 7:52 pm, Wednesday, Aug 19 2020. I continued to sight the moon steadily till 8:00 pm. after which it disappeared behind the houses to my west. The moon was readily and easily visible with binoculars only at that time. The haze was too intense. Neither of us could see the new crescent with bare eyes. The tips of the new crescent was pointing at 2 O'clock and 8 O'clock.

August 20, 2020 (Thursday):

  • Australia:


    1. Seen: MCW member Imam Abul Qasim Rizvi, Imam Juma Melbourne reported: Crescent of the month of Moharram Ul Haram 1442 AH has been sighted in Sydney Australia In�Sha�Allah Friday 21 August 2020 will be the First of Moharram Ul Haram 1442 AH.

    2. Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Thursday) 20th of August 2020, the Hilaal of Muharram has been sighted in Sydney and Brisbane. Therefore, the month of Muharram 1442 will begin from Friday, 21st of August 2020.

    3. Seen: MCW member Falcon Raja, from Sydney, NSW reported: Today Thursday 20 August 2020 in Sydney Australia it is a bit fair weather. I tried to observe Hilal at 6:39PM. It is very thin and orientation is 4-10 O'clock. Happy New year to all Muslims.

    4. Seen: MCW member Moussa Khalife from Sydney, NSW reported: Today is Thursday 20th of August 2020 , we have sighted the moon in Sydney Australia at 5:47 pm , the weather was clear and the crescent was quite high. The visibility was very clear so tomorrow is the 1st of muharram 1443H.

  • Egypt:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: From Giza, (30.00�N, 31.2�E) On Thursday, Aug 20, 2020, the Hilal of Muharram appeared clearly. I started my observation attempt shortly after Maghrib prayers at 18:58. The Hilal was clearly visible. Apparent sunset was at 18:31. Visibility was excellent. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

  • India:


    1. Seen: MCW member Yusuf Idara from New Delhi reported: Today, (Thursday) 20th of August 2020, I & My Family tried to see the moon at my home from 06:50 pm to 07:30 pm the moon was Not sighted in New Delhi Because the horizon was too Cloudy. But Seen Other Parts In India.

  • Mauritius:


    1. Seen: MCW member Nissar Ahmad Ramtoola from Port Louis reported: The new moon was sighted tonight Thursday 20 August 2020 in several localities in Mauritius. Hence Friday 21 August will be the 1st day of Muharram 1442. Yaume-E-Ashura (10th day of Muharram) will be observed on Sunday 30 August 2020.

  • New Zealand:


    1. Seen: MCW member Ahmed Mohammed from Auckland reported: Please be informed that the hilal of Muharram sighted today Thursday 20th August 2020, at about 6.20pm by 3 persons at Mangere, Auckland, New Zealand. In Sha Allah tomorrow 21st August 2020 will be the beginning of Hijra Year 1442 AH. Wish you all a very Happy Islamic New Year.

    2. Seen: MCW member Abid Jafery from Auckland reported: Friday, 21 Aug 2020 will be 1st Moharram 1442 Hijri InshaAllah. There has been multiple sightings in New Zealand from different locations on 20 Aug 2020 (29 Zilhijjah).

  • Pakistan:


    1. Seen: MCW member Dr Ismail Dehwar from Balochistan reported: Today on 20th August 2020 at 07:30 PM (local time) here in Pringabad Balochistan Pakistan Muharram ul Harram 1442 AH moon was sighted with naked eye even horizon was hazy.

  • South Africa:


    1. Seen: MCW member Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Thursday 20 August 2020, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Therefore Al-Muharram 1442 will commence on Friday, 21 August 2020 in South Africa.

  • Sri Lanka:


    1. Seen: MCW member Nular Bary from Colombo reported: Today 29th.of Dul Hajjah 1441 (20/08/2020) Borella, Colombo,Western Sky was cloudy and I couldn't see the New Moon, but most of our moon-sighting members write round the Island have clearly seen the New Moon of Muharram & Reported to the Colombo Grand Mosque Hillal committee. InShaAllah We'll start the New year 1442 (Month Muharram) on 21st.Friday August 2020 in Sri Lanka.

  • Tanzania:


    1. Seen: MCW member Hamza Rijal from Tiny Island of Zanzibar reported: Today, Thursday 20th August 2020 the Hilal was seen almost in the whole areas of tiny Island of Zanzibar, therefore we had 30 days of Dhul Hijja, the first day of Muharram will be on Friday, 21st August 2020.
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