Issue # 3: Can we identify in advance the most favourable sites for the observation of each new moon?
Renowned Muslim astronomers, such as Ibn Tariq (8th c.), Al-Khawarizmi (780 ?- 863), Al-Battani (850-929), Al-Bayrouni (973-1048), Tabari (11th c.), Ibn Yunus (11th c.), Nassir al-Din Al-Tousi (1258-1274 ?), etc. devoted much attention to the study of the criteria of visibility of the new moon, with the objective of developing efficient techniques of forecasting of the beginning of a new month. But, it’s only in recent times that some astronomers and information systems experts succeeded in developing procedures which make it possible to identify in advance, each month, the areas on Earth in which favourable conditions will exist for the observation of the new moon. Thus, in 1984, a physicist from Malaysia, Mohamed Ilyas, succeeded in drawing on the Earth map a “line of lunar date”, at whose west the crescent will be visible on the evening of the new month, whereas it won’t be seen, East of this line, until the next evening. (2) Today, detailed maps of the areas of visibility of the ne
Related Questions
- Issue # 4: Shouldn’t the observation of the new moon, wherever it is carried out, mark the beginning of a new month for all Muslims?
- Issue # 8: Does the hadith of the Messenger concerning the observation of the new moon establish an immutable rule of law?
- Issue # 3: Can we identify in advance the most favourable sites for the observation of each new moon?
