A seemingly impossible astronomical feat has been achieved. The Al Wathba Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi has successfully documented the sighting of the new crescent moon of Ramadan 1447 AH in broad daylight, according to an official announcement from the International Astronomy Center.
The observation, precisely timed for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, challenges conventional methods of crescent moon sighting, which typically require observations during twilight hours. Daytime sightings of the crescent moon are exceptionally rare.
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The scientific documentation comes at a critical time, as the International Astronomy Center had previously published its predictions for the visibility of the crescent moon of Sha’ban, stating that sighting the moon on Sunday, January 18, 2026 (29 Rajab) was impossible due to the moon setting before the sun in most parts of the world.
While forecasts indicated that sighting the Sha’ban crescent on Monday, January 19, 2026, would be possible with a telescope in most regions, including Abu Dhabi, where the moon was expected to be 17 hours and 56 minutes traditional, the announcement of the successful daytime observation exceeded all expectations.
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The achievement is particularly noteworthy given the strict scientific standards followed by the Crescent Moon Observation Project, founded in 1998 and comprising 1,500 members, which previously determined that the historical minimum for sighting a crescent moon with the naked eye is 29 minutes and 15.33 hours. This makes the Abu Dhabi observation exceptional by any measure.
This accomplishment positions the United Arab Emirates at the forefront of Islamic astronomy and enhances Abu Dhabi’s status as a global astronomical hub, contributing to a more scientifically accurate resolution of the annual debate surrounding the sighting of the crescent moon. The development underscores the UAE’s commitment to scientific advancement and its role in facilitating religious observances with precision.
