Khaberni - The Arab and Islamic world is eagerly awaiting the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to search for the crescent moon of Ramadan 1447 AH, amid widespread questions about the possibility of sighting the crescent and deciding the date of the beginning of the holy month in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and other Islamic countries.
All eyes will turn to the results of the Sharia moon sighting committees after sunset on Tuesday, in one of the most anticipated moments of the year, to determine whether Wednesday, February 18, is the first day of Ramadan 2026 or if the month of Sha'ban will be completed as thirty days.
When will the conjunction of the crescent of Ramadan 1447 AH occur?
Astronomical calculations indicate that the central conjunction (birth of the crescent of Ramadan) will occur at 3:01 PM Saudi and Jordanian time on Tuesday, just a few hours before sunset.
According to astronomical data:
The crescent will remain on the horizon of Mecca for only about 3 minutes after sunset.
The age of the crescent at the time of observation will be 3 hours and 18 minutes.
These data are astronomically weak, as the short duration of the crescent's visibility, its young age, and its close apparent proximity to the sun make its sighting with the naked eye impossible according to accepted astronomical standards.
Is sighting the crescent impossible or possible?
Although the astronomical calculations point to extreme difficulty or impossibility of sighting, the process of extrapolating the past shows that observers have spotted the crescent moons under similar conditions, and here the final decision depends on the results of the Sharia sighting announced by the competent authorities in each country, as the legal testimony is decisive in announcing the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan.
