Saudi Supreme Court sets moon-sighting date for رمضان 2026; astronomers flag visibility limits
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has notified the public that the formal observation of the Ramadan crescent will be held on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (ET). The announcement invites anyone who sees the new moon with the naked eye or through optical aids to report to the nearest court or designated centre to record testimony.
What the court is asking observers to do
The court’s statement calls on Muslims across the kingdom to take part in the traditional moon-sighting process on the specified evening. Observers who spot the crescent — whether with the unaided eye or using binoculars and similar instruments — are requested to submit their testimony to the nearest court or to contact the closest centre for assistance in reaching a court. The court also encouraged volunteers to join local committees formed for the purpose and described participation as spiritually meritorious.
The announcement reiterates the courtroom-based procedure that many Muslim-majority countries use to confirm the start of the fasting month, stressing community cooperation and the registration of visual reports. The court framed the appeal in religious terms, urging participation for mutual benefit and spiritual reward.
Astronomers outline visibility challenges and likely start dates
Regional astronomical groups and international observers have detailed the scientific conditions surrounding the new moon on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The astronomical conjunction — the moment the Moon and Sun share the same celestial longitude — is calculated to occur at 07: 01 ET on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. That timing places the Moon very close to the Sun at sunset in many parts of the Muslim world, severely limiting the chances of sighting a thin crescent.
One North African astronomy association released detailed calculations showing that in parts of Algeria the Moon will set only about six minutes after sunset on the 17th, a span judged too brief for a reliable visual sighting with the naked eye. On that basis, those astronomers conclude that month completion to 30 days is the astronomically preferred outcome for that country, making Thursday, February 19, 2026 (ET) the likely first day of fasting there under sighting-based local practice.
Observers in much of the Arab world and across Africa are expected to face similar constraints: low crescent altitude at sunset, brief post-sunset visibility windows, and the coincidence of a central annular solar eclipse at the time of conjunction in some longitudes. An international astronomy centre based in the region has warned that even powerful telescopes will not produce a safe or useful sighting in many locations, and cautioned the public against pointing optical instruments near the Sun because of the risk of severe eye injury.
Practical implications and what to expect next
The court’s scheduled observation night establishes an official moment for collecting visual testimonies in the kingdom, but astronomical assessments raise the prospect that many countries will reach different conclusions about the start of رمضان 2026. Where local sighting committees or judicial panels confirm visual reports, calendars will be set accordingly; where the crescent cannot be confirmed, communities typically complete a 30-day month before declaring the first day of fasting.
Muslims planning for Ramadan rituals and communal arrangements should note both the legal call for eyewitness testimony on February 17, 2026 (ET) and the scientific advisories that highlight severe visibility limitations in large parts of the world. Religious authorities and sighting committees will announce formal rulings following the evening observation period and the processing of collected testimonies.
For now, the combination of a judicial summons to observe the sky and independent astronomical calculations underscores that the final public calendar for رمضان 2026 will be shaped by both human testimony and predictable celestial geometry.
