Eid-Ul-Fitr Moon Spotting

Muslims follow lunar calendar and not solar calendar. In lunar
calendar the year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year. So one
cannot say if the days and dates of Eid-Ul-Fitr for the year 2008
would be similar to that of the year 2007.
Eid-Ul-Fitr Beginning
The beginning of the Ramadan , ninth month of Islamic calendar is also
decided by the sighting of the Crescent moon (hilal) This Sighting of
the hilal marks the beginning of the Ramadan. If hilal is seen at
night then the next day is the first day of Ramadan and fasting.
On the similar lines when the hilal is visible again at the end of the
month, it is the time to celebrate Eid-Ul-Fitr (break the fast). When
the hilal is sighted the beginning of the new month Shawwal, the
tenthmonth of Islamic calendar and the time to celebrate Eid-ul-fitr.
Eid-Ul-Fitr Moon SightingTips
Visibility of the crescent moon can be affected by a number of factors
and so itis recommended that number of observers should be involved to
sight a correct Crescent moon specially in cases where naked eyes are
used to detect the Eid moon. Factors affecting the sighting of the
crescent moon:
Distance of the moon fromthe Earth.
Local or geographical conditions (the height of the observer above sea level).
Character of the surrounding surface and the height of the horizon
relative to the observer.
Variations in the clarity of the atmosphere and wind direction..
Quality of eyesight of the observer.
Modified Ways Of Eid-Ul-Fitr Moon Sighting
Concept of international lunar date line (ILDL) has been developed by
Professor Ilyas in Malayia. ILDL forms a curved line on a world map,
which separates areas (west of line) where there are greater chances
of sightingmoon in the beginning of the lunar month along with the
areas where the crescent moon is likely to be seen (east of line). The
position of ILDL changes from month to month.
On the similar lines Dr.Monzur Ahmed has developed a computer program
called Mooncalc, which makes use of ILDL and creates world map to show
where the crescent is likely to be seen for the first time. The
position, age, phase, orientation, appearance and visibility of the
moon for any date, time and location on earthcan be find out making
theuse of ILDL.