Below is a quote from Saudi Gazette reporting an astronomer’s account on the possible day for the Eid-ul-Fitr in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
RIYADH – An astronomer and astrophysicist at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals expected Tuesday (July 29) to be the first day of Eid Al-Fitr. According to Ali Al-Shukri, it will be difficult to see the crescent on Sunday because the moonlight will be dim and the moon will set around 11 minutes after the sunset. On this day, however, it is possible to sight the crescent with special telescopes from southern Africa and South America. Astronomically speaking, sighting of the moon with the naked eye will be possible only on Monday, he said.
Thus, in Saudi Arabia, Eid ul Fitr would be very likely on Tuesday, 29 July 2014. However, many false claims of hilal sighting had been used to start the islamic month in the Kingdom in for many years. Hopefuly, it would not happen this time.
