DUBAI // A group of astronomers will forgo their customary annual public moon-sighting to help determine the start of Ramadan.
Hasan Al Hariri, head of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said the event would not be held because the positions of the Sun and Moon made it difficult to call.
Ramadan will begin when officials first see a new moon in the sky, although it is expected to start on Sunday.
Mr Al Hariri said he would report his own findings to the moon-sighting committee in Abu Dhabi but could not say if the crescent would be visible, as the Moon and Sun would appear to set at the same time.
“The motion of the Moon will be so slow, but basically it will go down with the Sun,” he said.
“There will most likely be no crescent to view. The Sun is very bright and they are too close to each other.
“It is near to the same situation as last year.
“We could go again this year to do the moon sighting but if the Moon is not there, what are we expecting to see?”
The official moon-sighting committee will meet after Maghreb prayers on Friday to examine the findings of Sharia courts across the country, and determine if Ramadan will begin on Saturday or Sunday.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
