Moon sighting on Saturday to determine if Sunday is holiday in Oman

Muscat: The sighting of the moon on Saturday will decide whether Sunday, 1 September, is officially declared as a holiday in Oman.

Oman’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs (MERA) has said that the moon is expected to stay in the sky for an hour on the evening of Saturday, 31 August. To confirm the sighting of the moon, teams of experts have been posted across the Sultanate.

Should the committee spot the moon tonight, it means that tomorrow, Sunday, 1 September will be a holiday. If not, Monday will be declared a holiday, as it will be the first day of Muharram.

According to a statement from the Astronomical Affairs Department at MERA, “"After sunset on the night of 29 of Dhu Al Hijjah 1440 AH, corresponding to August 31 the moon will stay visible for about an hour and three minutes in the case of clear weather. If the crescent is seen, Sunday, September 1st, 2019 will be 1st Muharram 1441 AH.”