The countdown for the start of the blessed month of Ramadan for the year 1445 Hijri has begun, as the crescent of the month of Sha'ban will be sighted today, Saturday, the 29th of Rajab. According to astronomical calculations prepared by the solar research laboratory at the National Institute for Astronomical Research, the crescent of Sha'ban will be born immediately after the conjunction at exactly 1:00 AM local Cairo time today, Saturday, the 29th of Rajab 1445 Hijri, corresponding to 2024/2/10 (the day of sighting).
The new crescent will remain visible for 39 minutes after sunset in Mecca, 40 minutes in Cairo, and in the other governorates of Egypt, the new crescent will be visible for between 40 to 42 minutes. In the capitals and cities of Arab and Islamic countries, the new crescent will remain visible after sunset that day for between 30 to 50 minutes. Thus, the beginning of the month of Sha'ban 1445 Hijri astronomically will be on Sunday, 2024/2/11.
According to the astronomical calculations, Ramadan this year is expected to begin on Monday, March 11. The duration of fasting this year will be 30 days. As for the last day of the blessed month of Ramadan, astronomical calculations indicate that it will be on Tuesday, April 9, corresponding to the 30th of Ramadan, with the beginning of the month of Shawwal and the first day of Eid al-Fitr being on Wednesday, April 10.
