The International Astronomical Center announced today, Wednesday, that the sighting of the crescent moon for the month of Shawwal (in the lunar calendar) on Thursday is not possible with the naked eye in the Arab world. It added, "Astronomical calculations indicate that Friday will be the first day of Shawwal," according to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In a statement signed by 25 experts and published on its official website, the center stated: "It is clear to everyone the confusion currently surrounding the sighting of the Eid crescent on Thursday evening, with some affirming it will be seen and that Eid will be on Friday, while others assert that the crescent will not be seen. The aim of this statement is not to determine the expected day of Eid al-Fitr, as it is linked to various factors including religious and scientific, but rather to clarify some scientific facts pertaining to the issue of crescent sighting."
