The Royal Observatory Greenwich Blog gave a full description of the moon visibility on August 21, 2009. Because the crescent moon was not visible in any of the big cities in United Kingdom, The Royal Observatory helped the British Muslims know that the month of Ramadan had begun.

Of course it is not to say our country is behind on helping Muslims. Naval Oceanography Portal website has a full page devoted to Ramadan. They list all the Muslim months as well as give an explanation of the months. They are saying that Ramadan started in USA on August 22, 2009 and that The Muslim New Year will start on December 17, 2009.

Muslims maintain the age old tradition of deciding when a month starts based on the appearance of the new moon.

Every Muslim anxiously waits for two of the moons every year. One is the moon that will inform that Holy month of Ramadan has started. Muslims can start a month of fasting. Just as eagerly Muslims wait for the new moon that will say the month of Ramadan is over and the next day will be Eid.

When it comes to Astronomy, technology has really helped change things. I knew a month before when the moon was going to show in United States. Sure enough that is the day Ramadan started here in USA. As a young girl I never thought a British institution would be looking for the Ramadan moon. How times have changed. As a young girl we used to look up at the skies all evening long. Now you just have to turn your computer on and you receive the information - did the moon come out or not? Read the rest of this entry »