Eid al-Fitr 2025 Expected on March 31 According to Astronomical Calculations
The International Astronomy Center has announced that the observation of the Shawwal 1446 crescent will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in most Muslim countries. However, sighting the crescent will be impossible on that day, whether with the naked eye, telescopes, or advanced imaging techniques.
According to the center’s director, Mohamed Shawkat Odeh, the Moon will set before or just after the Sun in most Arab and Muslim countries, making crescent visibility astronomically impossible. He noted that sighting will only be possible with a telescope in central and northern America and with extreme difficulty in the east of the continent. The crescent will only be visible to the naked eye in the Pacific Ocean, west of the United States.
Astronomical calculations indicate that the crescent will set before the Sun by 6 minutes in Jakarta, after it by 5 minutes in Muscat, 8 minutes in Mecca, 11 minutes in Amman, Jerusalem, and Cairo, and 19 minutes in Rabat. However, this period is insufficient for visibility as it does not exceed the required minimum angular elongation.
The center emphasized that all scientific criteria, including those of Danjon, Yallop, and the South African Observatory, confirm that crescent sighting will be impossible on Saturday, even with advanced CCD cameras.
For countries relying on official moon sighting, Ramadan is likely to complete 30 days, with Eid al-Fitr falling on Monday, March 31, 2025. However, some nations may declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, due to the conjunction occurring before sunset on Saturday, allowing for varying religious interpretations.
Additionally, a partial solar eclipse will occur that day, visible in some Maghreb countries, scientifically proving that the Moon is in front of the Sun at sunset, making crescent sighting impossible.
The International Astronomy Center warns against inaccurate sighting claims and urges people to follow official reports from the Islamic Crescent Observation Project.
