Morocco Likely to Celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Saturday as New Moon Sighting Expected Friday
The observation of the new moon of the month of Shawwal 2023/1444 will begin this Thursday, April 20, 2023, but it seems that most Arab countries will not be able to observe the crescent with the naked eye. This is at least what Hassan Talibi, astronomer and member of the Islamic Crescent Observation Project, predicts.
In Morocco, the height of the crescent will be between 5 and 6 degrees above the horizon, which will not allow it to be observed with the naked eye in accordance with tradition. However, a small area of the western Pacific Ocean will be able to see the new crescent with the naked eye, while the Maghreb countries and the west of Egypt will be able to observe it by telescope.
The next day, Friday, April 21, visibility will be better with the naked eye in most countries, which means that the first day of the month of Shawwal, synonymous with Eid al-Fitr, will be Saturday, April 22, 2023. Consequently, Ramadan will last 30 days.
The official date of moon observation will be officially announced by the Ministry of Endowments the day before Eid.
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