When will 1 Muharram 1439 H begin?

The year of 1438 H. will end. Soon, we will enter the new of hijriah year 1439 H. According to calculations in the book Ittifaq Dzatil Bain, conjunction of the end of the lunar month at the end of the year will occur on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at noon at 12:25:57 UTC + 7.

We describe the calculation of 1 Muharram 1439 H using the book of Ittifaq Dzatil Bain, with Condrodipo as the point of observation:

Calculation of 1 Muharram at Condrodipo, Gresik

The determination of the beginning of the month as well as the beginning of the year will be very interesting. why is that? because the height of crescent is low enough but slightly above the criteria of MABIMS. If calculated using the criteria M.Odeh crescent condition at Condrodipo on this month can not be seen (Not Possible).

Map of Crescent Visibility
Source : Accurate Times

Rukyatul hilal in condrodipo often results the appearance of a new moon. Though not a photographic image, but the result of the rukyatul hilal is still considered, and made as one of the basic determination of the beginning of the month in Indonesia.

Astronomers often mention that the moon with the criteria MABIMS very difficult to see, even impossible, but in reality the observers of rukyatul hilal not so. If the height of the hilal is above the criteria of MABIMS usually can be sure there is a report that Crescent is visible.

Further research is needed on this matter, which unites some opinions from various parties, astronomers, fiqh experts, and also the government.

1 muharram will occur on Thursday, 21 September 2017, it is based on MABIMS criteria, but for certainty we should follow the government's decision. Below! Simulation of rukyatul hilal 1 Muharram 1439 H in Condrodipo Gresik.

Simulation of Sunset at Condrodipo
Source : Stellarium

Simulation of Rukyatul Hilal at Condrodipo

Source : Stellarium

Islamic Astronomy Tools : Celestron Nexstar 4 SE

In studying a science, of course there are theories and also field practice, studying physics and biology must definitely practice in the laboratory, learning sports science should definitely practice in the field, learning the language of science should also practice in the language laboratory.

The need for practice in learning a science is a necessity, as well as the science of Islamic Astronomy. according to some people's understanding, Islamic Astronomy deals with the calculations of heavenly bodies, but they are useless if they are not applied in the field. there are several tools that become the needs of the astronomers, one of which is the telescope. In Islamic Astronomy the telescope is usually used for rukyatul hilal (observing the crescent) in the determination of lunar calendar, or for eclipse observation.

Source : https://www.celestron.com

This time I will discuss a bit about the use and specifications of Celestron Nexstar 4 SE telescope.

CELESTRON NEXSTAR 4 SE

The telescope has two functions, the first of which serves as a horizontal telescope, and the second serves as an equatorial telescope. This is one of the advantages of this telescope. for the tube type is a reflector telescope with a cassegrain telescope design.

Telescope parts:

Source : https://www.celestron.com

1. Optical Tube, the main part of the telescope, in this section will occur light reflection, which will then produce images of distant objects.

2. Star Pointer Finderscope, this section serves to make it easier when shooting sky objects.

3. Eyepiece, this part is the ocular lens of the telescope, this lens can also be changed to adjust the magnification of the telescope.

4. Focuser Knob, this section is used to adjust the focus of the telescope image. This section should always be arranged, especially if we replace eyepiece or change of observer, so that picture is always sharp.

5. Threaded Photographic Adapter, an adapter for SLR / DSLR cameras that have been connected by T-ring

6. Flip Mirror Control, Flip Glass used for image selection, whether light is forwarded to the camera ?, or is reflected to eyepiece ?.

7. Battery Compartment, Battery Place, this telescope needs 8 batteries to run it.

8. Tripod, this part is the foot of the telescope that supports mounting and tubes. This section is also commonly used to regulate the flatness of the telescope.

9. Accessory Tray, place to put various accessory, like eyepiece, T-ring. On the side of the Accessory Tray there is a vertical stick, this stick is used to support when we will use the telescope with equatorial model.

Source : https://www.celestron.com

10. ON / OFF Switch, the button to turn the telescope on and off, beside this button is also an AC Adapter input which is used to run telescope without battery.

11. Hand Control, this part is a remote used to control the telescope.

12. Liquid Crystal Display, Screen on the remote, inside is also usually listed coordinates of the telescope and also objects observed celestial objects.

For how to use? please visit this link Operational Celestron NexStar 4SE.

Accurate Times

The Accurate Times application is a well-known application amongst the astronomers, this software is made by Mohammad Syawkat Audah. In this application there are several calculation programs, such as the program of Salat Time, Moon and Moon Setting program, Moon Phase, Hilal Visibility, Sun Ephemeris program, Hijriah-Masehi (Lunar-Sun) Calendar, Qibla Direction and also Solar and Moon position guidance program for telescope operation.

This application was originally a prayer time application adopted by the Jordanian Ministry of Religious Affairs for the early determination of the prayer time in Jordan, but at a later stage it developed to the point of calculating the conversion of the Hijriah-Mashi-Hijri date and the determination of the beginning of the continuing month on the visibility of the new moon .

The front view of the Accurate Times application

One of these in-app programs that reflects his thoughts is the Crescent Visibility or Visibility Hilal program the author has described in the previous chapter.

Crescent Visibility program display in the Accurate Times application

In this program provided several options for the determination of criteria:
- Waxing / Waning Crescent
This option is used to select the object we will look for visibility, whether young moon or old moon.
- Calculations
This option is used to select the basic reference of calculation, whether the calculation based on the geosentric point that will produce the essential moon, or from the surface of the earth (Toposentric) that will produce the hilal mar'i.
- Day of Calculations
This option is used to determine the state of visibility, at day of intent, 1 day or 2 days after.
- Time of Calculations
This option is used to select the visibility reference time, at sunset, when the Moon is set, or when the Best time, which is one of Mohammad Odeh's formulas also that the author has described in the previous discussion.

Map of Hilal Accurate Times Visibility

The above picture is the moon visibility map of the Beginning Moon of Shawwal 1438 in the Accurate Times application with youthful hilal, topocentric hilal, hilal on the day of ijtimak and hilal at best time.

Visit this link to download it. Download