[jawad_babar]

Hi, my name is Jawad and I am from Pakistan. I wanted to discuss on an issue related to the moon sighting.
Islamic calender months start on the basis of moon sighting. Our holy month Ramazan starts the same way. Almost every year there are disputes between government authorities and the local mosques in the province of NWFP on moon sighting. In majority cases the local mosques get witnesses of moon sighting as per which the next day should be the start of ramazan but government authorities reject the witnesses. Government authorities on their turn give explanations of why the witnesses were rejected... either the moon cannot be seen at all on that specific day due to many reasons or some other things...
Yesterday 8/21/09, again 12 people from our province NWFP sighted the moon but again Government rejected them saying that sighting of the moon on 8/21/09 is not possible by naked eye in Pakistan and moon can be seen only on 8/22/09. Hence Ramadan will start on 8/23/09 onwards...
Can somebody explain to me astronomically that sighting of the moon on 8/22/09 in the areas of NWFP province was possible or not? NWFP province altitude is approx 1000 foot above sea level. Will really appreciate quick responses.
Your response will indeed help us detect who is correct and who is wrong.
Thanks,
Jawad.

[Clough]

Hi, jawad_babar!

I'm no astronomy expert. Hopefully, someone with that sort of knowledge will come along to address your post.

But, I am curious as to why there seems to be a dispute on the issue?

Thanks!