Jeddah: The Jeddah Astronomy Society (JAS) announced yesterday that it carried out an observation of the new moon crescent marking the start of the month of Safar 1447 AH on Friday evening. The effort was conducted under favorable astronomical conditions in several regions, particularly using optical observation devices.
According to Saudi Press Agency, precise astronomical calculations had indicated that the crescent might be visible to the naked eye in most areas with clear skies and minimal light pollution, though visibility was not guaranteed. The use of binoculars significantly improved the chances of spotting the thin crescent early, while small telescopes offered a clearer view of the crescent's curved and slender edge.
The society had advised selecting elevated locations far from buildings and sources of light pollution, with prior identification of the sunset position. The crescent typically appears just above and to the left of the sunset point, seen as a faint, extremely thin arc of light.
The sighting was significant, as it provided visual confirmation of the beginning of the lunar month, despite the exact moment of astronomical conjunction being precisely calculated in advance. It also served as an educational opportunity to understand the difference between an astronomical conjunction and a visual sighting, and supported the enhancement of local observatories' predictive and observational capabilities.