Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim
(In the Name of ALLAH, THE MOST BENEFICENT, THE MOST MERCIFUL)

CRITICAL HILAL (CRESCENT MOON) SIGHTINGS

31 Dec 1997

Dr.Mohib.N.DURRANI, E-Mail: Durrani@Hilal-Sighting.Com
E-Mail: mnd0@columbia.edu OR
National Coordinator (Since 1987), for Astronomical Information
Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Islamic Shura Council of North America
Shariah Scholars Association of North America (SSANA)

Copyright (c) 1997-2003

                  The Muslim Students Association of Columbia University
                  102 Earl Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027

                        CRITICAL CRESCENT MOON (HILAL) SIGHTINGS
                        ****************************************
                                                                       31 Dec 1997
                           Dr.Mohib.N.Durrani
                         Copyright (c) 1997-2003
      [Permission to use is granted to all, please acknowledge source.]

The following is a continuously updated list of Worldwide Critical Sightings 
of the Hilal (Crescent Moon). Information is added to the basic data so as 
to be more useful for models of predicting sightability of the Crescents. 
Please send confirmed crescent sightings (and also confirmed NON-sightings) 
to us (Email to mnd0@columbia.edu). The information is shared internationally.
Additional data on local air pressure, temperature, etc are also going to be 
added. Some of the information is repeated in different categories.

Present world records:
**********************                           Reference    AstroNewMoon(UT)
                                                 Source       YearMntDte HrMin
YES VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MIN AGE  15 hr  07 min 252  O'Meara 1990  5 24 11:47
YES VISIBLE - AIDED EYE - MIN AGE  11 hr  56 min ST3  J.Stamm 1996  1 20 12:50

YES VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MIN ALT  8.93 deg      252  O'Meara 1990  5 24 11:47
YES VISIBLE - AIDED EYE - MIN ALT  7.34 deg      ST3  J.Stamm 1996  1 20 12:50
[I am going to add Azimuth difference from the sun to the above, and below,
 to include sightings with "large Del Az".]

NOT VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MAX AGE
NOT VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MAX ALT

NOT VISIBLE - AIDED EYE - MAX AGE
NOT VISIBLE - AIDED EYE - MAX ALT
        The following Symbols are used:
        ********************************
        I    = Invisible with UNAIDED eye
        V    = Visible   with UNAIDED eye
        A    = Invisible with Binoculars
        B    = Visible   with Binoculars
        S    = Invisible with Telescope
        T    = Visible   with Telescope
        E    = Hilal Sighting in the Evening (New Lunar Month)
        M    = Hilal Sighting in the Morning (Old Lunar Month)
        nnn  = Numerical Listing in Drs.LeRoy Dogget and Brad Schaefer Listings
        ST   = Information from Sky and Telescope
        PCn  = Personal Communication (n)
        ICE  = Information computed with "ICE"  program, at local sunset
        MICA = Information computed with "MICA" program, at local sunset

YES VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MIN AGE
*********************************
 No Year Mo Dt   Lat   Lng  SunSt MonSt New-Moon  E VB ARCL ARCV   DAZ   Age
                 +N    +E   Hr:Mn Hr:Mn  d  h  m  M IV Deg  Deg    Deg    Hr
157 1979  1 27  35.2 -111.7                      *M IB 10.4  9.2    5.4 -16.5
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic     7:30  6:45 Age      @SnSet      7.46   5.0
ST  1988  7 14                                    E V        8.25   0
ST  1989  5  5                                    E V        7.25   0
ST  1989  5  5                                    E V        8.5    0
252 1990  5 24  34.2 -118.1 O'Meara     24 11:47  E VT 10.2 10.2   0.8   15.5
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    18:54 19:46 Age15:07 @SnSet 8.9  8.93 -0.2   15.1

YES VISIBLE - ONLY AIDED EYE - MIN AGE (Binoculars/Telescope)
*************************************************************
 No Year Mo Dt   Lat   Lng  SunSt MonSt New-Moon  E VB ARCL ARCV   DAZ   Age
                 +N    +E   Hr:Mn Hr:Mn  d  h  m  M IV Deg  Deg    Deg    Hr
157 1979  1 27  35.2 -111.7                      *M VB 10.4  9.2    5.4 -16.5
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic     7:30  6:45 Age                  7.46   5.0
237 1989  5  5  43.0  -85.7              5 11:46  E IV  9.4  9.3   -0.3  13.4
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic    19:48 20:41 Age13:02             7.56   0.8  13.0
238 1989  5  5  39.7 -105.5              5 11:46  E IV 10.0  9.9   -0.3  14.9
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic    20:00 20:53 Age14:14             8.12   1.1  14.2
239 1989  5  5  42.7  -84.8              5 11:46  E IV  9.3  9.3   -0.4  13.4
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic    19:44 20:36 Age12:58             7.51   0.9  13.0
241 1989  5  5  30.3  -97.0              5 11:46  E IV  9.5  9.2   -2.5  13.7
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic    19:08 19:51 Age13:22             7.33   2.9  13.4
250 1990  5 24  31.6 -110.5 Bieda       24 11:47  E IV  9.9  9.9    0.2  15.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    19:17 20:06 Age14:30  DIFC  8.6  8.60   0.5  14.5
ST- 1990  5 24 ?36.0  -83.9?SmokyMnt,TN 24 11:47  E IV            13:04  13.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    18:41 19:28 Age12:54  IMPOS 7.8  7.79   0.1  12.9
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic                                     7.22   0.2
ST1 1996  1 20 ?34.1 -118.4?MtWilson,CA 20 12:50  E IV                   12.8
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:12 17:53 Age12:22  IMPOS 7.8  7.63  1.4   12.4
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic          17:52                      6.895 1.4
ST2 1996  1 20 ?33.5 -112.1?Sentinel,AZ 20 12:50  E IV                   12.6
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:48 18:27 Age11:58  IMPOS 7.6  7.40  1.6   12.0
ST3 1996  1 20  32.2 -110.9 Tuscon, AZ  20 12:50  E IV                   12.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:46 18:24 Age11:56  IMPOS 7.6  7.34  1.9   11.9
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic                                     6.628 1.8

YES VISIBLE - NAKED EYE - MIN ALTITUDE
**************************************
 No Year Mo Dt   Lat   Lng  SunSt MonSt New-Moon  E VB ARCL ARCV   DAZ   Age
                 +N    +E   Hr:Mn Hr:Mn  d  h  m  M IV Deg  Deg    Deg    Hr
Personal Communications (PC)                                        -->**High
PC1 1996  1 21 -33.9   18.4 SignlHil,SAf20 12:50  E  V       5.7  16.0
CpTw^^^^MICA Topographic    19:58 20:32 Age29:43  VDIFF17.3  6.80 16.0   29.7
PC2 1997  2  8 -33.9   18.4 SignlHil,SAf 7 15:06  E  V       5.6  14.0
CpTw^^^^MICA Topographic    19:45 20:19 Age26:39  VDIFF15.5  6.67 14.0   26.7
 29 1865  7 24  38.0   23.7                       E V  23.7  9.4   22.0  47.7
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic      
 44 1871  9 14  38.0   23.7                      *M V   9.3  9.0   -3.6 -15.4
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic          
 69 1878 10 27  38.0   23.7                       E V  24.3  8.8   22.8  41.0
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic          
 85 1911  8 25  49.9    2.3                       E V  21.4  9.2   19.6  39.2
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic          
204 1911  1 31  51.0   -0.9                       E V  16.4  9.7   13.2  31.7
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic    16:51 17:56 Age                  7.45 -13.5

YES VISIBLE - AIDED EYE - MIN ALTITUDE (Binoculars/Teles) 
********************************************************* 
 No Year Mo Dt   Lat   Lng  SunSt MonSt New-Moon  E VB ARCL ARCV   DAZ   Age
                 +N    +E   Hr:Mn Hr:Mn  d  h  m  M IV Deg  Deg    Deg    Hr

119 1972  3  1  35.5 -117.6                       E VB  9.8  9.4  -3.6   14.9
122 1973  7  1 -44.0  170.5                       E VB 10.6  8.6  -6.8   18.0
250 1990  5 24  31.6 -110.5 Bieda       24 11:47  E IV  9.9  9.9   0.2   15.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    19:17 20:06 Age14:30  DIFC  8.6  8.60  0.5   14.5
ST- 1990  5 24 ?36.0  -83.9?SmokyMnt,TN 24 11:47  E IV            13:04  13.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    18:41 19:28 Age12:54  IMPOS 7.8  7.79  0.1   12.9
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic                                     7.22  0.2
ST1 1996  1 20 ?34.1 -118.4?MtWilson,CA 20 12:50  E IV                   12.8
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:12 17:53 Age12:22  IMPOS 7.8  7.63  1.4   12.4
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic          17:52                      6.895 1.4
ST2 1996  1 20 ?33.5 -112.1?Sentinel,AZ 20 12:50  E IV                   12.6
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:48 18:27 Age11:58  IMPOS 7.6  7.40  1.6   12.0
ST3 1996  1 20  32.2 -110.9 Tuscon, AZ  20 12:50  E IV                   12.1
    ^^^^MICA Topographic    17:46 18:24 Age11:56  IMPOS 7.6  7.34  1.9   11.9
    ^^^^ICE  Topographic                                     6.628 1.8
Personal Communications (PC)
PC1 1996  1 21 -33.9   18.4 SignlHil,SAf20 12:50  E  V       5.7  16.0
CpTw^^^^MICA Topographic    19:58 20:32 Age29:43  VDIFF17.3  6.80 16.0   29.7
PC2 1997  2  8 -33.9   18.4 SignlHil,SAf 7 15:06  E  V       5.6  14.0
CpTw^^^^MICA Topographic    19:45 20:19 Age26:39  VDIFF15.5  6.67 14.0   26.7

File: \astro\almanac\mica\hilal\critical\CRIT1.TXT