The National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA said on Friday it had successfully calculated and predicted that the appearance of the first astronomical lunar crescent for the month of July 2016 would commence on July 5, 2016.
The agency said in a statement that the moon’s appearance could not be sighted with the naked eyes except with the aid of a charge coupled device, an astronomical telescope or any other optical astronomy instrument.
“Thus, the proper sighting of the crescent with the naked eyes marks the end of Ramadan,” it said.
The Head, Media and Corporate Communications, NASRDA, Dr. Felix Ale, added that the conjunction of the moon for the month of July 2016 would be on July 4, 2016 at about 12am, thereby making the first astronomical crescent visible for sighting on July 5, 2016 between the hours of 1:26am and 8:13pm.
It also said Jos, the capital of Plateau State, would be the first to scientifically witness the first young lunar crescent at about 1:26am concurrently to 7:50pm, followed by Gombe and Maiduiguri between the hours of 1:29 am — 7:40pm and 1:29am — 7:39pm, respectively.
It added, “The lunar crescent will be scientifically sighted lastly in Kano, Abuja and Sokoto between the hours of 1:57am – 7:58pm, 1:57am – 7:58pm and 1:57am – 8:12pm respectively.
“All other states of the federation will experience the first lunar crescent between the estimated time of 1:26am and 8:13pm on July 5, 2016.”
Ale said the results released by the agency showed precise dates, appearance time of first crescent, sunset, as well as moon set time for all the state capitals of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He added that the calculated results had been made available for the public on its website.
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