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The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has predicted that the crescent moon for Shaaban 1447 AH is most likely to be sighted on the evening of January 20, 2026, while spotting it on January 19 is expected to be extremely difficult. According to SUPARCO’s astronomical calculations, the new moon will be born at 12:52 AM on January 19, making it only 17 hours and 36 minutes old at sunset that day. Coastal areas will have a brief window of 33 minutes between sunset and moonset, reducing the probability of a naked-eye sighting.
If the crescent is not observed on January 20, the first day of Shaaban will be marked on January 21, 2026. The final announcement will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which confirms the start of Islamic months based on verified testimonies across Pakistan. Committee sessions are scheduled for the evening of January 19, along with zonal and district-level meetings.
SUPARCO also highlighted the Ruet mobile application, launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology, designed to modernize and streamline the moon sighting process across the country. This tool aims to provide timely updates and improve coordination between committees, making moon sighting easier for citizens.
Experts encourage people to rely on official announcements for Ramadan and Shaaban dates rather than personal observations, especially given the brief visibility windows predicted this year.
“The visibility conditions on January 19 are extremely challenging, and the likelihood of spotting the moon is low. Observers should prepare for January 20 as the most probable day for sighting,” SUPARCO stated.
