Is there any possibility even remote that new moon prediction date was wrong ?
I assume that you are confident now of the accuracy of the calculations. So, the question that arises is: What did they see !?!? • Let me start by this quotation from the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) site: “Sightings have been reported when the crescent was not even above the horizon, or before astronomical new moon. A low-contrast brightness/ haziness structure is commonly present in the twilight sky. In addition extended staring can produce fatigue. For these and other reasons, such as an understandable mental bias in favor of a successful outcome, self-deception must be carefully avoided. Remember that a conservative judgment of non-sighting with your best effort is USEFUL information for refining visibility criteria, whereas false positives only confuse the issue.” This is absolutely right, persons who do not have enough knowledge in astronomy might see another object and think of it as the crescent ! It could be Venus, as well as some atmospheric phenomena, such a
