NASRDA releases first moon crescent report for Ramadan

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has predicted that the first appearance of the first astronomical Lunar crescent for Ramadan would be sighted on Wednesday, May 16.

Its Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, said in a statement, that the appearance of the moon, as calculated by the Centre for Basic Space Science in Nsukka, an activity centre of NASRDA, is expected to signify the beginning of Ramadan the next day, as would be officially announced, in line with Islamic tradition, to all Muslims faithful by the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

The statement explained that the first conjunction of the moon would occur around 12:48pm on Tuesday, May 15, but would later appear in Nigeria on Wednesday at 12.05pm and can only be viewed with a Charged Couple Device (CCD), an astronomical telescope, or any good optical astronomy instrument.

Ale, however, noted that the young moon would be observable in Nigeria with unaided eyes between 6:11pm and 8:09pm, with Port Harcourt, Maiduguri and Jalingo being the first to witness it at 6:11pm to 6:50pm, 6:56pm to 7:35pm, and 6:59 to 7:30pm, respectively, on Wednesday May 16, while it would be sighted in Kebbi State between 7:33pm and 8:12pm and in Sokoto and Ogun states between 7:29pm and 8:09pm, concurrently, and in Lagos between 7:28pm and 8:08pm the same day.He said all other states of the federation would experience the Lunar crescent at an estimated time of 6:11pm and 8:09pm on May 16.

The Lunar crescent would appear in Abuja between 7:18pm and 7:58pm, between 7:15pm and 7:54pm in Kano and 6:55pm to 7:34pm in Katsina, with Enugu and Kaduna experiencing it between 6:39pm and 7:50pm and 6:45pm and 7:57pm, respectively.

These results are based on precision generated analysis and information, which the NASRDA’S Centre of Excellence for Basic Space Science engages in.Ale emphasised that details of the calculated results are available for the information of the general public, especially for those who would need them for religious and academic purposes.