The International Astronomy Center has predicted that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated in most Islamic countries on May 13th. Engineer Mohammed Shawkat Awda, the director of the International Astronomy Center, explained that most Islamic countries will seek to sight the Eid crescent on Tuesday, May 11th. However, there are other countries that started Ramadan on Wednesday, April 14th, and therefore they will look for the Eid crescent on Wednesday, May 12th. Among these are several non-Arab African Islamic countries, which will likely celebrate Eid either on Thursday or Friday.
He noted that for the countries that will seek the crescent on Tuesday, May 11th, it is impossible to sight the crescent that day from all Islamic countries due to the moon setting before sunset and the occurrence of conjunction (the birth of the crescent) after sunset. As a result, these countries will complete 30 days of Ramadan, making Eid fall on Thursday, May 13th.
He also pointed out that for the countries that will seek the crescent on Wednesday, May 12th, it will be possible to sight the crescent using a telescope from the eastern part of the Islamic world and from Arab countries in Asia and Europe. Additionally, the crescent can be sighted with difficulty by the naked eye from most of Africa, Canada, and South America, while it can be easily seen with the naked eye from most of the United States, Central America, and northern South America.
