Ramadan: NASRDA says new moon will be sighted Wednesday

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has disclosed that the next astronomical lunar crescent, which signifies the end of fasting month of Ramadan, will be sighted on Wednesday, 12 May.

NASRDA, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr Felix Ale, on Monday, said from its calculations, the agency found out that the conjunction of the moon will occur at about 8:00pm on Tuesday 11 May 2021.

Despite that, according to Ale, the first astronomical lunar crescent will only appear in Nigeria on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at about 8:30am.

He said: “The first lunar crescent visibility in states is as follows; Yola in Adamawa State will be the first to witness the first young lunar crescent from about 6:21pm to 6:57pm and followed by Maiduguri in Borno State from 6:23pm to 6:59pm.

“The city of Jalingo in Taraba State will be the next to witness the appearance from 6:26pm to 7:02pm, while Yobe State in the city of Damaturu and Gombe state will experience the appearance of the Lunar crescent from about 6:28pm to 7:04pm, and 6:29pm to 7:05pm respectively.

“In Abuja the country’s capital City, the Lunar crescent will appear at 6:45pm and end with moonset at about 7:27pm while Kano and Sokoto will experience Lunar Crescent between 6:42pm and 7:19pm; and 6:57pm and 7:43pm respectively with Kano having a sunset at 6:42pm and moonset at 7:24pm.

“Also, Abeokuta in Ogun State will experience the appearance of the Lunar crescent between 6:56pm and 7:33pm, while in Kastina state the first lunar crescent will appear between the hours of 6:47pm and 7:24pm with sunset and moonset at about 6:47pm and 7:29pm respectively”.

The agency also said Jos in Plateau state and Kaduna state would experience the crescent from between 6:38pm and 7:14pm, and between 6:44pm and 7:21pm respectively.

According to its calculations the sunset and moonset in both states will be 6:38pm and 7:19pm and 6:44pm and 7:26pm respectively.