Jakarta, NU Online
The Astrology Committee of Nahdlatul Ulama (LFNU) will deploy its team of observers to hold a rukyat (moon sighting) in at least 70 strategic points in Indonesia. The reporting of the new moon observation will be centered on the 4th floor of the LFNU office, Jalan Kramat Raya 164, Central Jakarta.
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The rukyat will be held on Thursday (16/7) today, ie, on the afternoon, 29th of Ramadan 1436 H.

"The rukyatul hilal (moon sighting) will be held in some 70 to 100 strategic points, namely at the beach, hills, or towers," chairman of LFNU, KH A. Ghazalie Masroeri told NU Online here on Wednesday (15/7).

Based on the nautical almanac published by the largest Muslim organization, the ijtima (conjunction) occurred on Thursday (16/7) coincided with 29th  Ramadan 1436 H at 08:25 pm. While the height of hilal at the time of sunset was on 3 ° 1' degrees and the hilal will be above the horizon for 13 minutes 25 seconds.

"We appeal to the team of observers to perform the so-called shalat hajat (a prayer offered for the accomplishment of a particular purpose) before departing for rukyatul hilal in order that we were given the ease by Allah SWT. It is imkanur rukyat (hilal may be seen) but as stated by Kiai Salam Nawawi (Chairman of the East Java's LFNU), when the team was asked to perform shalat hajat, that means we all could not predict," Kiai Ghazalie said.

Data of hisab (astrological calculation) has already met the criteria of imkanur rukyat set out in the Council of Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore (MABIMS), namely during the sunset the altitude above the horizon is at least 2 °, and the angle of elongation of moon-sun is minimum 3 °, or dueing the moonset the moon's age is minimum 8 hours counted from ijtima'.

The LFNU has formerly stated that the position of the new moon of the year is still very thin and is somewhat difficult to observe. The National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) also stated, scientifically the new moon will be visible above a height of 5 ° above the horizon.

If shortly after sunset on 29th Ramadan the moon is already visible, it means that the next day or Friday (17/7) Eid prayer will be held. But if the moon could not be seen, Ramadan will be completed to 30 so that the 1st day of Shawwal 1436 H will fall on Saturday (18/7/2015). (masdar)