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Prediction of the Start of Month of Zul-Hejja 1428 Hejriah |
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Tuesday, 11 December 2007 |
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Arafa Day (the ninth day of month of Zul-Hejja) may fall on Wednesday 19 December, and Eid Al-Adhha (Eid of Sacrifice) may fall on Thursday 20 December 2007
The Calculations are done for the Longitude and Latitude of
Makkah AlMukarramah Area and the times are for the Local Time of Saudi Arabia
Makkah Al-Mukarramah: Latitude = 21.43 ° N , Longitude = 39.82 ° E
Text Box: Prediction: [ (30 Zul-Qada 1428 Hejriah, 10 December 2007) ]
[ (01 Zul-Hejja 1428 Hejriah, 11 December 2007) ]
New Moon of Zul-Hejja Occurs on Sunday 9 December 2007 at 8:41 p.m.
According to the astronomical calculations, the birth of the new moon (conjunction) occurs about three hours after the sunset on Sunday 9 December 2007 in Makkah AlMukkaramah , therefore the moon sets before the sun where it sets about 23 minutes before the sunset, therefore and according to calculations and actual sighting, it is impossible to sight the moon on that evening due to its absence (It is below the horizon) as indicated in the above table. But on the evening (just after the sunset) of Monday 10 December 2007, which should be the 30th of Zul-Qada 1428 H, it may be possible to sight the crescent by using optical aids, but with difficulty. The age of the moon at that moment will be about 21 hours, stays about 29 minutes above the horizon, and the magnitude of its visible part is about 0.9 % of that of the full moon.
For crescent sighting: provided that the sky is clear and free of clouds and dust, one should face approximately toward southeast at the sunset where the altitude of the moon above the horizon will be about 5 degrees, it will be about 9 degrees to left (south) of the setting sun, and the shape of the crescent moon will be slightly tilted to the left as shown in the figure.
Accordingly, previous calculation and possibility of actual sighting indicate that the first day of Zul-Hejja may be (In-Shaa-Allah) on Tuesday 11 December 2007 as shown in the table.
The conclusion is that, Inn-Shaa-Allah, Tuesday 11 December 2007 may be the first day of the month of Zul-Hejja 1428 H, the Arafa Day (the ninth day of month of Zul-Hejja) may fall on Wednesday 19 December, and Eid Al-Adhha (Eid of Sacrifice) may fall on Thursday 20 December 2007 and Allah has the knowledge (wAllahuAllam).
The above prediction is based on astronomical formulas and calculations and may be used for the purpose of a general guidance and one should go with the method of actual sighting of the moon, the method which, our Prophet Mohammad SallAllhuAlihiWassallam (e) guided and ordered us to observe and follow, and Allah has the knowledge.
Dr. Ali Mohammad Al-Shukri , Chairman of Physics Department , Physics Department, KFUPM
Box 5047 , Dhahran 31261 , Saudi Arabia , Phone: 860-2255 - fax: 860-2293
email: alshukri [@] kfupm.edu.sa or c-phys [@] kfupm.edu.sa
Homepage: http://faculty.kfupm.edu.sa/phys/alshukri
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