Which crescent is new?

بسم الله الحمد لله

A lot of the muslim world is currently getting ready to crescent watch and work out the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr. Here are some tips to sky gazing.

First get our terms right
Waxing moon : increasing, the new hilaal is therefore waxing.
Waning moon: diminishing in size.

Using your hands
The angle of the tilt varies depending on which country your in.

You can use your hands to work out what is happening. You can make a crescent shape using your forefinger and thumb. If the crescent you see fits the crescent you make with your right hand then this is a waxing crescent. If the crescent fits your left hand’s crescent then it is a waning crescent. This rule works in the NORTHERN hemisphere and is reversed in the SOUTHERN hemisphere.

For mnemonic enthusiasts the shape of the letters in the capitalised word DOC can be used to remember this. The letter D without its vertical line is a waxing crescent and the letter C is a waning crescent. This rule is reversed in the Southern hemisphere.

Some pictures

View from the SOUTHERN hemisphere is below

View from the NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Acknowledgements:
Woodlands Junior School