Rabi-us-Sani moon sighting unlikely on 18th

Islamabad: If the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) is to be believed, there is absolutely no likelihood of ‘Rabi-us-Sani’ beginning on December 19 due to the unlikely of the sighting of the new Islamic month's moon in the country on its eve. The country's main moon-sighting body, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, will meet on December 18 evening to declare the sighting or otherwise of the ‘Rabi-us-Sani’ moon.

It will be assisted by the PMD, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, and Pakistan Navy. Abdul Rashid, director at the PMD Climate Data Processing Centre, said the new moon of Rabi-us-Sani 1439 AH would be born on the crossing conjunction point at 11:30 PST on December 18. He said according to the climate records, the weather was expected to be fair or partly cloudy in most parts of the country on the day.

“According to astronomical parameters, there is no chance of sighting the new moon of Rabi-us-Sani, 1439 AH, on the evening of December 18 i.e. on 29th of Rabi-ul-Awwal, 1439 AH," he said.