Oman uses scientific way for moon sighting

Muscat: “Many countries enter the year’s months by sighting the moon by vision while some only use astronomical calculations and predictions. This criteria (of moon sighting) is not determined by astronomers but scholars due to its legitimacy,” said Ammar Salim Al Rawahi, Director of Astronomical Affairs at the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs (MERA).
“Astronomy helps in calculating the time that the moon can be seen before and during sunset. Calculations and algorithms had been used centuries ago due to their precision and through calculations we are able to find out what happens to the universe in the future. The world moves at precise intervals,” he added.
He added that Oman and Morocco are the only two Arab and Islamic countries who are accurate in entering the Hijra months.
He explained that there are “impossible sightings” where the moon could not be seen before or during sunset due to its low height over the western horizon as well as the time taken and distance for it to be seen between the visual reference between the moon and the sun including weather obstruction such as low level clouds, haze and dust.
The ministry has three committees comprising the main committee headed by the Minister of MERA and the Grand Mufti of the Sultanate as the member, scholars and the honourable judges.
There are branched (several others) committees where their job is to collect the reports of sightings from the public and investigate.
They would then collect the results and hand it to the main committee who will then announce the coming month.
“There are 25 field committees to sight the moon. Each committee comprises a preacher, Imam and a member of the Oman Astronomical Society as well as participations from the community,” said Al Rawahi.
“Each committee has special instruments to see the moon and they are all supervised by the Directorate of Astronomical Affairs,” said Al Rawahi.
He added that the holidays are not announced by surprise and they are not the responsibility of MERA nor the astronomers.
“The month of Muharram was going to be either Sunday or Monday, but the moon was not visible on Saturday so the ministry decided it would be on Monday. Even after calculations, the moon on Sunday would be only 50 per cent visible in the beginning even in clear weather, but we were not be able to go for the sighting due to the bad weather,” he explained.