SCIENCE OF MOON SIGHTING
BY
Syed Khalid Shaukat
A study of science of moon-sighting can clarify lots of misconceptions and wrong perceptions.
MAIN FACTORS FOR CRESCENT VISIBILITY
Most people associate visibility with the age of the moon. Age of the moon is simply the time lapsed
since new moon. It can give a rough approximation for visibility. The visibility depends upon the
angular separation of the moon from the sun seen from the earth. As the time passes from the instant
of new moon, the angular separation between the sun and the moon increases. This angular
separation reflects sun's light to earth. Until this angle becomes 7 degrees, no light of sun reflected by
the moon can come to the earth, because of the mountains on the surface of the moon that block the
sun light (Danjon 1932). This angle must be about 10-12 degrees from the sun's light to reflect from
the moon making a thin crescent that can be sighted.
Another important factor is the moon's altitude above horizon. If the crescent thickness is sufficient,
but it is not above horizon, then it can not be seen. This happens in the month of September and
October in USA, when the moon is in the southern hemisphere, therefore, it can not be seen from
northern hemisphere. The moon within the altitude of 10 degrees at sunset is usually not visible.
It is also a scientific fact that, if the moon is visible anywhere on the globe, it would be more easily
visible on all places west of it. On the contrary, we hear the news of moon-sighting in Middle East,
and on the same evening, here in North America several hours later, it is not visible despite clear
horizons. This clearly tells us that what was seen in Middle East could not have been the moon.
Muslim astronomers in this age of technology are now in a position to calculate the dates for
possible/impossible moon-sighting. So the validity of sighting claims can be easily verified for
authentic moon-sighting. To start an Islamic month correctly, we must examine sighting claims in light
of knowledge that Allah (swt) has given us. Let us pray to Allah (swt) to open our hearts and minds
to understand these facts about moon-sighting.
However, there are several misconceptions about moon-sighting. The same are discussed below:
Misconception 1: 29th day moon is always thin and 30th day moon is thick.
It is very possible that the 30th day moon of one month is about the same thickness as 29th day
moon of another month. The moon revolves around the earth in an elliptical orbit, therefore,
sometimes it is closer to the earth and sometimes it is farther from the earth. If the moon is 20 hours
old on 29th day of one month when it is closer to the earth, it may look about the same size as, when
it is 25 hours old on the 30th day of another month and is farther from earth.
Misconception 2: 29th day moon sets in a short time while 30th day moon remains longer on the horizon.
The moon above the horizon an hour before setting travels down to horizon line along a path whose
inclination depends upon the latitude of the observer. A vertically downward path would be an
Equator, and a 45 degrees slope at 45 degree latitude. The moon that is 10 degrees above horizon
at Equator, would set quicker than a moon that is 10 degrees above horizon at a latitude of 45
degrees. Therefore, it is not correct to say that the 30th day moon remains longer on the horizon. Some months it may be, but not always.
Misconception 3: If the moon is thick and remains on the horizon a long time, it must be theN 2nd day moon.
This is very common argument that we hear repeatedly, but has no truth in it. If on the 29th day, the
moon at sunset is 18 hours old and is higher above the glare of the sun, it may be visible on that day
and will appear to be very thin. However, if the 18 hours old moon on the 29th day is very low on
the horizon, it would not be visible on that day, then on the 30th day it would be 42 hours old and
quite thick, and remains above the horizon a long time, but it was not visible the day before.
Misconception 4: On New-moon day the dark side of the moon faces earth.
By this sentence, people think that the far side of the moon is dark side of the moon, and that dark
side faces us at New-moon day. That is not the case. The same side of the moon always faces the
earth, sometimes illuminated, and sometimes dark. The moon takes 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes
to spin, or rotate, once on its axis. It takes the same amount of time to orbit the earth. The
combination of the two motions keeps the same side of the moon facing the earth. To us on earth,
the moon is fully illuminated at full moon, completely dark at new moon, and partially lit in between.
Misconception 5: Three consecutive months of 30 days are not possible.
Three consecutive months of 30 days are very possible and are not uncommon. In fact even four
consecutive months of 30 days is possible, but rare. This is mainly due to considering the whole
USA as one (Matla') horizon. Because of the elliptical orbit of the moon, two consecutive months of
30 days are quite common. In the third month, on the 30th day of previous month, sometimes the
moon is only sighted on west coast, because for east coast it may have been 29th day from the
actual sighting in east coast. If that is the case then in fourth month the moon may take 29 or 30 days
to be visible. In the latter case it would be four months in a row that make 30 days' month. The
Committee for Crescent Observation, Ithaca NY has been keeping the records of sighting in North
America for the last two decades, and confirms that three consecutive months of 29 days, and four
consecutive months of 30 days has occurred several times in USA.
Misconception 6: Full moon occurs on the 14th night.
This is wrong too. Full moon is the instant of time when the moon crosses an imaginary line passing
through the centers of the sun and earth. This could happen at any moment of day or night.
Therefore, it is very possible that in one month the moon is full at 7:00 a.m. This moon would be
99% lit on the night before and becomes full in the morning, but decreases to 99% lit-up on the
following night. Such a moon would appear as a full moon to an observer on both nights. These two
nights could be 13th and 14th, or 14th and 15th depending upon the location on earth and the time of new moon birth.
Mr. Khalid Shaukat is a consultant to Fiqh Council of North America for moon-sighting and qibla direction issues. He is also a consultant to Islamic Shura Council of North America (that comprises of four major Islamic organizations; ISNA, ICNA, Ministry of W. Deen Mohammad, and Jamaat Community of Imam Jamil Al-Amin).
Reprinted from The MCC UPDATE, November 1997.
Islamic Calendar Development in North America
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