Eid Al Adha 2025: Crescent moon marking end of Dhu Al Qadah photographed in broad daylight

Abu Dhabi: The crescent moon marking the end of the Islamic month of Dhu Al Qadah (1446 AH) was successfully photographed in broad daylight on Monday, May 26, 2025, by the Al Khatm Astronomical Observatory, part of the International Astronomy Centre.

The observation took place at 11:40 AM UAE time, when the moon was approximately 12 degrees from the sun. Remarkably, the moon was just 18 hours old at the time—meaning the lunar conjunction (new moon) had not yet occurred. This makes the sighting both rare and scientifically significant.

Such early observations help refine lunar visibility models, which are crucial for accurately determining the start of key Islamic months such as Dhul Hijjah, which marks the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid Al Adha.

The crescent was photographed by the observatory team, including Osama Ghanem, Anas Mohammed, Khalfan Al Nuaimi, and Mohammed Awda, who collaborated to capture the faint crescent in daylight using advanced astronomical imaging equipment