Ammon News - The International Astronomical Center (IAC) has predicted that Wednesday, May 27, 2026, will likely be the first day of Eid al-Adha in most Islamic countries, based on astronomical calculations for the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH crescent moon.

IAC Director, Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, said that Islamic countries will observe the Dhul Hijjah crescent on the evening of Sunday, May 17, 2026. He explained that the crescent is expected to be visible by telescope from East Asia, South Africa, and southern South America, while naked-eye visibility will be possible across large areas including Central and Western Asia, North Africa, and most of the Americas.

Odeh added that because the crescent is expected to be visible in parts of the Islamic world on Sunday, Monday, May 18, is expected to mark the beginning of Dhul Hijjah, making Wednesday, May 27, the first day of Eid al-Adha.

The report noted that the moon will set after sunset by varying durations in several Arab cities: (58 minutes after sunset in Abu Dhabi and Mecca/ 69 minutes in Amman and Jerusalem/ 67 minutes in Cairo/ 79 minutes in Rabat.)

The center stated that crescent visibility in these cities should be relatively easy with the naked eye.

It also explained that the shortest crescent visibility duration ever recorded by naked eye was 29 minutes, while the youngest crescent successfully observed was 15 hours and 33 minutes old. However, visibility depends not only on the moon’s age and setting time, but also on factors such as its angular distance from the sun, altitude above the horizon, and atmospheric clarity.

According to the center, the crescent visibility map showed that sighting would be impossible in red-marked areas, impossible in uncolored areas, possible with telescopes in blue regions, and visible to the naked eye in green regions.

The center invited those interested to follow crescent sighting updates through the Islamic Crescents Observation Project website affiliated with the International Astronomical Center.