Moon Sighting
HomeMapsCitiesCountriesNext 12 MonthsCalendarEventsHistoryObservationsAI ChatAboutContact
Moon Sighting

Islamic crescent moon visibility predictions powered by astronomical calculations and machine learning.

Top Cities

  • New York
  • Los Angeles
  • Chicago
  • Toronto
  • London
  • Istanbul
  • Makkah
  • Dubai
  • Riyadh
  • Cairo
  • Karachi
  • Lahore
  • Dhaka
  • Jakarta
  • Mumbai
  • Kuala Lumpur
  • Tehran
  • Houston
  • Dearborn
  • Nairobi

Data Sources

  • JPL DE421 Ephemeris (NASA)
  • CrescentWatch.org observations
  • MoonSighting.org.co.uk observations
  • Chicago Hilal Committee observations
  • Skyfield astronomical library

Methodology

  • 7 astronomical visibility parameters
  • ML Random Forest model
  • 2,000+ historical training records
Feedback & Feature Requests

Moon Sighting Project · Astronomical predictions are estimates and should be used alongside traditional moon sighting practices

Hilal Visibility Predictions

Crescent Moon
Sighting Predictions

Astronomical calculations powered by NASA JPL ephemeris data and machine learning, trained on 2,000+ historical observations.

Loading...

Search by US zip code or city name. Outside the US, tap My Location to use your current coordinates.

Regional Cities

View predictions for 290+ cities across 12 regions worldwide

Islamic Calendar

Upcoming Islamic month predictions for your location

Islamic Events

Ramadan, Eid, and other key Islamic dates with Hilal predictions

Historical Records

Explore 2,000+ historical moon sighting observations

Popular Cities

New York CityLos AngelesChicagoHoustonDallasTorontoLondonParisIstanbulMakkahDubaiRiyadhCairoKarachiLahoreIslamabadDhakaMumbaiJakartaKuala Lumpur
View all 290+ cities

How Hilal Visibility Predictions Work

Our moon sighting predictions combine precise astronomical calculations with machine learning to determine when the crescent moon (Hilal) will be visible after a new moon conjunction. Using NASA JPL DE421 ephemeris data processed through the Skyfield library, we compute five key parameters at sunset for any location: moonset lag, moon age, moon altitude, sun-moon elongation, and lunar illumination percentage.

These parameters feed into a Random Forest model trained on over 2,000 historical sighting reports from CrescentWatch.org, MoonSighting.org.uk, and Chicago Hilal Committee spanning two decades. The model outputs a confidence percentage that maps to one of six visibility labels — from "Very Likely" to "Unlikely" — helping communities plan for the start of Islamic months like Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijjah.

Key Astronomical Factors

  • Moonset Lag — time between sunset and moonset; longer lag means more viewing time
  • Moon Age — hours elapsed since new moon conjunction
  • Moon Altitude — angular height of the moon above the horizon at sunset
  • Elongation — angular separation between the sun and moon
  • Illumination — percentage of the moon's surface that is lit

Confidence Levels

  • Very Likely (75%+) — crescent easily visible to the naked eye
  • Likely (55–74%) — visible under normal conditions
  • Possible (40–54%) — visible with clear skies and an unobstructed horizon
  • Difficult (25–39%) — may require binoculars or experienced observers
  • Very Difficult (10–24%) — challenging even with optical aid
  • Unlikely (<10%) — crescent not expected to be visible

Worldwide Coverage

Predictions are available for any location worldwide. Enter a US zip code, or use the "My Location" button for automatic geolocation. We also provide pre-computed predictions for over 290 cities across 12 regions including the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian Sub-Continent, the Americas, Central Asia, East Asia, and Oceania. Each prediction accounts for the observer's exact latitude, longitude, elevation, and local timezone.