2024-03-04 09:45:19
The Cameroonian Lunar Crescent Council (CCCL) has just published its forecast for the probable start date of the month of Ramadan for the year 2024. In a press release made public on March 1, the institution indicates that the first day of fasting would be set this year for Monday March 11.
Date determined by the visibility of the lunar crescent
As tradition dictates, the start of Ramadan is conditioned each year by the observation with the naked eye of the very first crescent moon (then very thin), called “Neomenic moon”.
According to calculations carried out by the Association for Astronomical Observation (AOA), a scientific body associated with the CCCL, the new moon should be visible at sunset on Sunday March 10 in certain Cameroonian localities. The next day, Monday March 11, would therefore be considered the first day of the 9th month of the Muslim lunar calendar.
A crescent moon only 9:24 a.m. old
Still according to the AOA, the crescent in question would be born precisely on March 10 at 9:58 a.m. (Douala time), with a very low illumination rate of 0%. Difficult in these conditions to observe it with the naked eye.
However, a few minutes after sunset that day (6:34 p.m.), a short period of 18 minutes would open up to try to see this lunar crescent, only 9:24 a.m. old! A real challenge for experienced observers…
CCCL calls for contributions from amateur astronomers
Aware of the difficulty, the Cameroonian Lunar Crescent Council intends to mobilize its resources to obtain exclusive images of this emerging crescent. Astrophotography teams will be deployed across the country on the evening of March 10, “in order to have exclusive images of the brand new lunar crescent”indicates the institution.
Proof if any were needed that modern astronomical science is more essential than ever to establish with certainty the beginning of the lunar months of the Hijri calendar. Hence the call launched by the CCCL for the contribution of Cameroonian amateur astronomers in this sky observation project. Their photo of the lunar crescent would be decisive in ratifying the date of March 11 as the start of Ramadan 2024.