Question: "Was there any possibility of moon sighting (visibility) anywhere in the world on Saturday, March 29, 2025? Has it actually been seen anywhere in the world?"

Grok (AI): Determining the visibility of the crescent moon on Saturday, March 29, 2025, depends on both astronomical calculations and actual sighting reports. The crescent moon's visibility is influenced by factors such as its age (time since the new moon), elongation (angular separation from the sun), altitude above the horizon at sunset, and local weather conditions.

Astronomically, the new moon occurred on March 29, 2025, at 6:58 a.m. EDT (10:58 GMT). At this point, the moon is not visible as it is too close to the sun. For the crescent to become visible, it typically needs to be at least 12-24 hours old, though under exceptional conditions (clear skies, optical aid, and a high vantage point), it can sometimes be seen as early as 15-18 hours after the new moon. On Saturday evening, March 29, the moon’s age at sunset varied by location: for example, it was about 12-14 hours old in parts of North America and up to 18-20 hours old in eastern regions like Australia. Visibility also requires the moon to be sufficiently above the horizon after sunset, generally at least 5 degrees, and separated from the sun by at least 8-10 degrees (elongation).

Scientific predictions for March 29, 2025, indicate that sighting the crescent moon on Saturday evening was highly unlikely across most of the world due to its young age and low position. Notably, a partial solar eclipse occurred on the same day, visible in parts of Eastern Canada, Greenland, and Northern Europe. On the day of a solar eclipse, the moon is aligned with the sun, making it impossible to see the crescent that evening from most locations, as it remains too close to the sun and below the horizon at sunset. Experts, including the UK’s HM Nautical Almanac Office and the UAE-based International Astronomy Centre, stated that the crescent would not be visible on March 29, even with optical aid, from the Middle East, Europe, Asia, or most of the Americas. However, some western regions, like parts of North America (e.g., Alaska), could theoretically have had a slim chance of visibility due to the moon being slightly older (around 14-16 hours) and potentially just above the horizon with perfect conditions.

As for actual sightings, reports vary. Saudi Arabia announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent on March 29, declaring Eid al-Fitr for Sunday, March 30. However, this claim has been contested by astronomers who argue it was scientifically impossible due to the moon’s position and the eclipse, suggesting it may align with their pre-set Umm al-Qura calendar rather than an actual sighting. No widely verified sighting reports from other regions, such as North America, Australia, or elsewhere, have been confirmed for March 29 by this time (01:02 AM EDT, March 30). Organizations like the Central Hilal Committee of North America and Moonsighting Australia, which rely on local observations, had not reported sightings by late Saturday, with updates expected after sunset in their respective regions. Posts on X also reflect skepticism, with some users claiming it was “physically impossible” to sight the moon anywhere except perhaps Alaska, though no Alaskan sightings have been documented yet.

In summary, while there was a theoretical possibility of sighting the moon in extreme western regions like Alaska on March 29, 2025, under perfect conditions, it was broadly considered impossible elsewhere due to the eclipse and the moon’s young age. As of now, Saudi Arabia’s reported sighting is the only notable claim, but it lacks scientific backing and broader confirmation. No definitive, verified sightings have been reported worldwide by this early hour on March 30.

(Asked the question around 1 am, Sunday, March 30, Toronto)