Ramadan month forecast to start July 21

A UAE astronomer has forecast the Muslim's fasting month of Ramadan could start on Saturday July 21, with Eid Al Fitr falling on August 19. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, astronomy researcher and supervisor of Sharjah Planetarium, said that the birth of the crescent moon will be on Thursday, July 19, at 8.24am (UAE time), and the sunset will be at 5.09pm, while the moon will set two minutes after sunset. "The crescent moon of Shawwal 1433 will born on Friday August 17 at 5.54pm local time, and the sunset will be at 6.49pm same day," he added in comments published by state news agency WAM. Al Jarwan said sighting the crescent would be impossible on Thursday night, but it would be visible on Friday night. Therefore Saturday July 21 would be the first day of Ramadan, he said.