LAHORE, Oct 24: The Punjab University space science department has predicted that the moon of Ramazan 1424AH will be sighted at 5.20pm on Oct 26 (tomorrow).

A representative of the department said the moon would have attained the age of 23 hours 49 minutes and 58 seconds at the specified time, which was favourable for its visibility. He said that the minimum age of the new moon required for its visibility was 21 hours.

He said the width of the crescent sighted in Lahore would be 0.44 minutes of the arc and the elongation 13 degrees 15 minutes and 10 seconds.

Only if the angular separation between the sun and the moon is 10.5 degrees, the moon is visible from the earth. At 5.20pm on Oct 26, he said the angular separation would be 13 degrees 15 minutes and 10 seconds from Lahore.

He said the altitude of the new moon above the horizon at sunset in Lahore on Oct 26 will be 6.87 degrees. “The altitude of the moon above the horizon at a location on the earth at sunset must be greater than five (for its visibility.”