Moonsighting for Rajab 1444
1444 AH
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Al urjoonul qadeem of Jumada-at-Thania 1444: January 21 & January 20, 2023

On right is the old Crescent Moon (End of Jumada-al-Thania 1444 AH), January 20, 2023, taken by MCW member K.Mohammed Hussain Palayamkottai Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India. Time 5:22 am IST The Illumination was about 5 % The Altitude was around 6� and horns were at 3 & 10 O'Clock. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

On January 20, morning, MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad mentioned: Using a pair of binoculars (7X50), I sighted the waning crescent of Jumada-at-Thania at 7:26 EST (sunrise, 7:33). The horizon was partly cloudy; if not because of the clouds, I could have seen the crescent earlier. Since the sighting was close to sunrise, I could not see the crescent by naked-eye. Click on the photo on the right to see full size.

New Crescent Moon of Rajab 1444:
The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) is on January 21, 2023 (Saturday) at 20:53 UT.
On January 21, the moon can not be seen any where in the world. On January 22, the moon can be easily seen in Africa and Americas. On January 23, the moon can be seen in the whole world (See visibility curves).

The earliest reported sighting of the new crescent was on January 22, 2023 from Pretoria, South Africa.

January 22, 2023 (Sunday):

  • Albania:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Ebu Xhunejd (Ledjo Hyka) from Tirana reported: We couldn't sight the new hilal of Rajab. The sky was all cloudy and we could sight the new moon. So, 24 January is first day of the month of Rajab.

  • Australia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Shabbir Ahmed, President of Qubaa association of Western Sydney, NSW reported: Today (Sunday) 22nd of January 2023, the Hilal of Rajab 1444 has not been sighted anywhere in Australia. Therefore, the month of Rajab 1444 will begin from Tuesday, 24th of January 2023.

  • Egypt:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Hisham M. Hamed from Cairo reported: Tonight, Sunday, January 22, 2023, a friend of mine and I attempted to observe the Moon from Ma'adi, in South Cairo (29.96�N, 31.25�E), starting from 17:39. Apparent Sunset was at 17:23, and Best time was at 17:42. Pressure, temperature and relative humdity were 1017.7mb, 20.0�C, 43.0% respectively. The apparent arc of vision was only 8.5�. The Crescent brightness is below the threshold by: 2.28 magnitudes/arcsec�. The Age of Moon was 18 hours, 50 minutes at best time. We could not see the Moon. We concluded our attempt at 17:53, at which time the Moon was below 2� of altitude.

  • India:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Zaid Duch from GUJARAT, INDIA reported: On Sunday, 22nd of January 2023 (29 Jumada at-Thani, 1444) between 18:20 to 19:00 (Sunset 18:19 & Moonset 18:56) at Location: Navi Masjid, Nadiad, Gujarat, India; we group of 6 people attempted to sight the crescent moon (Hilal) of Rajab 1444. The horizon was clear but we were not able to sight the Hilal.

    2. Not Seen: MCW member Rasheed Usman, Kozhikode, Kerala reported: There are no reports of sighting of hilal of Rajab 1444 AH today 22nd January 2023 anywhere in the State of Kerala.

    3. Not Seen: MCW member Iqbalhusen Bokda from Godhra, Gujrat reported: Crescent for Rajab-1444 was not seen today on 22nd January, 2023 here at Godhra. Sky was clean. Almost all Moon Committees of India have declared negative sighting reports as it was 29th Ja.Aakhar today all over India.

  • Indonesia:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member AR Sugeng Riyadi from Rowasiya Observatory reported:

  • Kenya:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Muhammad A Said from Mombasa reported: On Sunday, 22nd January 2023 / 29th Jumada al-Thani 1444 AH. The weather was cloudy, we were not able to see the crescent for Rajab, even venus was not seen. The East African community has announced that Monday, the 23rd of January will be the completion of 30 days of Jumada al Thani and Tuesday the 24th of January will be 1st of RAJAB 1444 AH.

  • South Africa:


    1. Seen: MCW member Keeka, Mohamed Iqbal, Pretoria reported: The Hilaal for Rajab 1444 was sighted in South Africa this evening (Sunday, 22 January 2023) marking the immediate start of the month of Rajab.

    2. Seen: MCW member Rashid Motala from Durban reported: On the evening of Sunday 22 January 2023, the Hilaal WAS sighted in South Africa. Therefore Rajab 1444 will commence on Monday, 23 January 2023 in South Africa.

  • USA:


    1. Not Seen: MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, January 22, 2023), the crescent moon was not seen in Blacksburg, VA (Lat: 37� 15' 40" N, Lng: 80� 26' 56" W, and elevation: 646 meters). The sky was completely covered by clouds. At 5:55 pm, the temperature, dew point, relative humidity, and pressure were 34.0 F, 34.0 F, 100%, and 29.80 in, respectively.

    2. Seen: MCW member Mirza S Basravi from Irvine CA reported: On January 22, 2023, I went out to site the new moon of Rajab a little later than usual in Irvine California; approx 5:45 pm PST. I could see the new crescent very clearly through a mesh of cloud streaks. The tips of the crescent were pointing to 2:30 an 7:30 on the imaginary clock in the sky.

    3. Seen: MCW member Gulamabbas A. Khakoo from Anaheim, CA reported: I sighted the crescent for the Month of RAJAB 1444 from Anaheim, CA. on Jan 22nd, Sunday evening around 5:49pm. The Top horn was at 2:00 and bottom at 8:00. on left side of sunset with a naked eye.

    4. Seen: MCW member Norm Vargas from Mount Wilson CA reported: On January 22, the thin crescent moon was sighted by 10x42 binoculars at 5:24 pm from San Gabriel, CA, USA. The horns were in the 3 o'clock and 6:30 positions. It was obscured by clouds and was not seen by eye until 5:29 pm.

    5. Seen: Council of Shia Muslim Scholars in North America announced: The Moon-Sighting Committee of the Council of Shia Muslim Scholars of North America announces that Monday, January 23rd, 2023 will be the first day of the month of Rajab, 1444 A.H. for the entire region of North America.

    6. Seen: MCW member Khalil Homafar from Houston TX reported: This evening (Sunday January 22, 2023), the crescent moon was sighted in Houston, Texas (29�45'N / 95�22'W). I saw the crescent with naked eye at 6:18 pm. The horns were approximately at 1:00 and 7:00 O'clock. Temperature 61� F, dew point 28 �F, humidity 29%, and pressure was 29.99" Hg. Therefore, Monday January 23, 2023, will be the first day of Rajab.

    7. Not Seen, but seen at other locations in USA. MCW member Dr Javad Torabinejad from Blacksburg VA reported: This evening (Sunday, January 22, 2023), the crescent moon was not seen in Blacksburg, VA. The sky was completely covered by clouds. However, the crescent was sighted in Orlando, Florida and Houston, Texas (seen at 6:18 CST). The two crescent pictures are from the latter location sent by brother Mohammad H.

    8. Seen: MCW member Shahnoor Syed, On Behalf of Mahdavia Ruiyat e Hilal of Chicago, IL reported: Hilal of RAJAB 1444H was sighted at multiple locations across mainland USA by our Shahideen - Mahdavia Rui�yat e Hilal volunteers who gave their Shahadat- (testimony) in the name of Allah. As such the first day of RAJAB will be on Monday, January 23, 2023 in North America.

January 23, 2023 (Monday):

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