Re: Ramadan
**From moonsighting.com
Ramadan: The Astronomical New Moon is on Monday October 3, 2005 at 10:28 Universal Time. Looking at the visibilty curve one can understand that the moon is in the Southern Hemisphere. The moon is about 15 hours old and being too low on the horizon for North America will set in 14 min. after sunset on west coast. It cannot be seen in North America nor anywhere East of USA October 3. On October 4, it will be visible in most of the world except most of Asia and Europe, where it will be 24 to 31 hours old and less than 2 degrees above the horizon, still not visible. In Europe and most of Asia, it cannot be seen until October 5, when it will be 48 to 55 hours old. Accordingly, the first day of Ramadan will be on Wednesday, October 5, 2005 for North America and most of the world, except most of Asia and Europe, Insha-Allah.
From isna.net
RAMADAN: The available data indicate that the Astronomical New Moon will occur on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 10:28 GMT, i.e. 6:28 a.m. Eastern Standard Time or 3:28 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. On October 3 rd , this moon is going to be about 15 hours old on the west coast of USA , and all Muslim astronomical consultants are unanimous that it is impossible to see it in North America . The reason is that it is going to be too low (only about 2 degrees) above the horizon at sunset in North America setting in about 5 to 15 minutes after sunset. On October 4, it will be easily visible in North America , because it will be about 39 hours old and will remain on the horizon for up to 45 minutes. It will be a big moon, but it will be the first crescent seen in North America . With this indisputable scientific data, it is likely that 30 days of Sha'ban will be completed and the first day of Ramadan will be on Wednesday, October 5, 2005, for North America , insha'Allah.**
Here's what I don't get. There is mind/observation-independent reality. If we follow that, the first day of Ramadan should be Tuesday. But, because of bad visibility factors, and because we can't see the moon, even though it is there and legitimately there...we will follow our own observations...which are flawed?
So since when did Islam say to not follow scientific reality, but rather our inaccurate observations of it??
Muslims are so messed up. The first day of Ramadan for North America should be tomorrow.