International Astronomy Center: Seeing the crescent of Shawwal and Eid al-Fitr 1444, the day of investigation, is not possible in these countries

Weather of Arabia - All Arab countries started this year the blessed month of Ramadan on the same day, so will the month of Ramadan end at the same time? And how will it be possible to see the crescent of Shawwal and Eid al-Fitr for the year 1444, the day of the investigation?

The possibility of seeing the crescent of the month of Shawwal 1444, the day of the investigation

According to the official website of the International Astronomy Center, the central conjunction will occur on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 04:12 UTC, God willing, and it is the day of investigation in all Islamic countries that began fasting Ramadan 1444 on Thursday, March 23, 2023.

According to the center, the probability of observing the crescent for the month of Shawwal and the beginning of Eid al-Fitr in the Arab countries will be as follows:

• According to the previous map from the International Astronomy Center, seeing the crescent is not possible with the naked eye or with a telescope from uncolored areas that include most Arab countries, despite the setting of the moon after sunset and the occurrence of surface conjunction before sunset, due to the lack of illumination of the crescent and/or Because of its proximity to the horizon.
• Seeing the crescent will be possible using a telescope only from the areas in blue, including the Maghreb countries.

And therefore:

• Saturday, April 22, 2023 may be the date of Eid al-Fitr and the beginning of the month of Shawwal, in countries where it will not be possible to observe the crescent with the naked eye.
• It is possible that the date of Eid al-Fitr and the beginning of the month of Shawwal will be on Friday, April 21, 2023, in North American countries, as we are ahead of them at night, and then there will be a possibility to see the crescent on the day of observation, Thursday, April 20, 2023.

The decision remains for the jurisprudence councils that adopt vision with the naked eye or telescope.