Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The crescent moon marking the beginning of the month of Sha‘ban was sighted Tuesday evening shortly after sunset, appearing low on the southwestern horizon, confirming the start of the new lunar month.

Majed Abu Zahra, director of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, said the moon had entered its central conjunction phase late Sunday night, corresponding to Rajab 29, 1447 AH, at 10:51 p.m. local time in Makkah.

He explained that the conjunction marked the moon’s transition from west to east of the sun, an astronomical indicator of the beginning of a new lunar cycle.

As the moon moved farther away from the sun’s brightness, visibility conditions improved, allowing the crescent to be observed on Tuesday evening.

The confirmed sighting of the Sha‘ban crescent is significant in the Islamic lunar calendar, as the month precedes Ramadan and helps determine the timing of key religious observances.