Eid el-fitr likely on Monday – Space agency

The Eid el-Fitr celebration is likely to take place on Monday as the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) said the appearance of lunar crescent to end the Ramadan fast is expected in Nigeria on Sunday, 25 June, 2017 between the hours of 6.29pm and 8.40pm.

A statement yesterday by NASRDA Head, Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale said the lunar crescent can be best sighted with the aid of charged couple device imaging; astronomical telescope or any optical astronomy instrument.

He explained that the proper sighting of the crescent with naked eyes will bring to an end the ongoing Ramadan fast as would be officially announced by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar in line with Islamic tradition.

The forecast means Muslims all over the country are likely to celebrate Eid el-Fitr on Monday, June 26 after 30 days of fasting.

The agency said Port Harcourt, Adamawa, Maiduguri, Taraba, and Damaturu would be first to witness the appearance of the crescent at about 6:29 pm concurrently to 7:20 pm; while it will be sighted lastly in Sokoto between 7:49 pm – 8:40 pm.

All other states of the federation will experience the lunar crescent between the estimated time of 6:29 pm and 8:40 pm on 25th June 2017.

The results released by the agency indicates precise dates, appearance time of the first crescent, sunset as well as moon set time for all the states capital of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

In Abuja for instance, the first lunar crescent will appear between 7:37 pm and 8:28 pm, with sunset at about 6:56 pm, and moon set at about 8:28 pm. In Kano the appearance of the crescent will be experienced between 7:34 pm – 8:25 pm, with sunset and moonset at about 6:54 pm and 8:35 pm respectively.

The first lunar crescent will appear in Katsina between the hours of 7:39 pm to 8:30 pm with sunset and moonset at about 6:59 pm and 8:30 pm

The lunar crescent for Enugu is between 7:29 pm – 8:21 pm, while in Kaduna it will be between 7:36 pm – 8:27 pm. The sun and the moon are expected to set in Enugu at about 6:55 pm and 8:27 pm respectively, and they will expectedly set in Kaduna at about 6:48 pm and 7:41 pm respectively.

The southwest states of Lagos and Oyo will experience the first lunar crescent between 7:46 pm – 8:39 pm, and 7:45 pm – 8:37 pm respectively. And the sun will set in these states at about 7:04 pm and 8:39 pm, while the moon will set at about 7:04 pm and 8:37 pm respectively.