As of last night, Tuesday, July 21st, 2020 we did not receive any confirmed New Moon sightings with the naked eye, however we were informed this morning of some that did sight it after optical aid was used to find it, but was sighted after sunset. Therefore, based on the reports from Israel, the New Moon will mathematically begin this evening at sunset since today is the 30th day of the 4th month.
New Moon day will be Wednesday evening, July 22, 2020 through Thursday evening, July 23rd, 2020.
Thank you to all the groups and individuals that faithfully go out to look for the moon in the land! Your work is appreciated!
Have a great Month!
~Brother Mark Harris
1 comment
Hi Mark,
This post has me feeling more than a little confused. You use “but” in the sentence, “but was sighted after sunset”. Isn’t the sighting always done after the sun sets? You use the word, “mathematically”, yet it also says, “based on the reports from Israel”. Does this mean that you used the eyewitness accounts which utilized optical aid, or did you not use them (though I know you normally specify a default was used when used due to no sightings)? I’m also curious, because the importance of these sightings is to get the timing exactly right, and not to nit-pick how the moon was spotted. Timing is timing, and I would think it is less important as to how it’s sighted, and more important on getting the timing right, because that is indeed the entire reason for this: time. Of course, this is likely what you have in mind anyway and I have it all confused, so this is just me trying to gain some clarity. All of this aside, and it goes without saying, my family and friends very much appreciate the work you do in maintaining this site, most sincerely.