Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, Feb 15: Astronomers in the UAE have issued a public safety advisory ahead of the expected Ramadan crescent sighting on Tuesday, February 17, warning residents not to attempt viewing the moon through telescopes or binoculars due to serious risks of eye damage.

The International Astronomical Centre (IAC), based in Abu Dhabi, said the moon will be positioned extremely close to the sun at sunset across much of the Arabian Peninsula. The rare alignment coincides with a solar eclipse earlier in the day, significantly increasing the risk of accidental exposure to direct sunlight through optical instruments.

According to the centre, directing telescopes or binoculars at celestial objects located close to the sun without certified solar filters can result in temporary or permanent eye damage, including blindness. Because of the moon’s position on February 17, any attempt to sight the crescent at sunset would likely place the sun within or very near the field of view of the instrument.

Astronomers stressed that this creates a real danger not only to observers but also to equipment, as concentrated sunlight could damage lenses and internal components. Professional observatories avoid pointing telescopes at objects positioned so close to the sun unless strict safety standards and specialised solar filters are used.

On the evening of February 17, moon-sighting committees across the Arab and Islamic world are expected to look for the Ramadan crescent. However, the angular separation between the sun and the moon at sunset will be exceptionally small.

In Riyadh, the angular separation is expected to be just one degree at sunset. In practical terms, this means that if a crescent were present, it would be positioned approximately half a degree from the edge of the sun’s disc.

Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group, said that although the solar eclipse will occur earlier in the day, by sunset the moon will still remain extremely close to the sun. Any telescope directed toward the crescent’s expected position would almost certainly capture direct or near-direct sunlight.

The IAC stated that the moon will not meet recognised visibility conditions across the Arabian Peninsula that evening. In several Saudi cities, the moon’s elevation at sunset is expected to remain below accepted thresholds. In Jazan, forecast to record the highest altitude in the Kingdom, the moon’s elevation will be around half a degree, while in other locations it will be less than one degree.

Astronomers explained that by the time the sun fully sets, the lower edge of the moon’s disc would already have dipped below the horizon, leaving no visible crescent. In parts of the western Arabian Peninsula, the moon may set approximately one minute after sunset, but experts said that brief interval would still be insufficient for visibility.

The centre also cited earlier scholarly discussions on lunar visibility standards. Saudi astronomer Mulham Hindi of King Abdulaziz University has previously published data indicating that the moon’s altitude on Tuesday will remain below accepted visibility thresholds. Medieval scholar Ibn Taymiyyah had also noted that a crescent at a separation of one degree would not be visible, while separations of around 20 degrees typically allow sighting under clear conditions.

The IAC emphasised the distinction between the moon as a celestial body and the visible crescent, or hilal, which marks the start of an Islamic month. “The object present in the sky on Tuesday is the moon, not the crescent,” the statement said, adding that the visible crescent appears only after conjunction has passed and when sufficient illumination and separation from the sun make it observable.

The solar eclipse occurring that day, visible in parts of southern Africa and Antarctica, further confirms that the moon will remain in its new-moon phase.

Most countries in the Arab and Islamic world are expected to attempt crescent sighting on Tuesday evening. If the crescent is not seen, the month of Sha’ban will complete 30 days and Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Astronomers noted that while the analysis primarily applies to the Arabian Peninsula and nearby regions, visibility conditions may vary slightly in parts of West Africa or the United States due to geographic differences.

For now, experts have urged the public to avoid unsafe observation attempts and leave technical sightings to trained professionals equipped with certified solar filters and proper safety equipment.