Ramadan Crescent to be born before sunset; official decision left to Sharia authorities
The Al-Ujairi Scientific Center announced that astronomical calculations indicate the conjunction of the Ramadan crescent moon will occur before sunset on the evening of Tuesday, February 17.
The projections indicate that the moon will dip below the horizon after sunset in Kuwait, meeting the essential astronomical conditions for the start of the new Hijri month.
According to a map prepared by the center showing the moon’s position worldwide, the lower part of the moon’s disk in Kuwait will set simultaneously with sunset at 5:38 pm, and the entire moon will disappear at 5:39 pm, with an elongation of about one degree, reports Al-Jarida daily.
The center added that in the horizon of Makkah, the moon will fully disappear about three minutes after sunset, while its duration in other Arab and Islamic countries will be limited.
The center explained that the combination of the moon’s birth before sunset and its setting after sunset fulfills the astronomical conditions used in calendar calculations to mark the beginning of a new Hijri month; however, the official declaration of start of remains the responsibility of the Sharia Vision Authority and relevant official bodies.
The center also noted that it will participate in observing the Ramadan crescent on February 17, 2026, in response to an invitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
