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The Beginning of Ramadan Is Signaled by Observations of the Moon

What is the Intersection of Ramadan and astronomy? Dive into the timing of Ramadan and discover the ties between Islam’s most devout month and astronomy.

BySam Walters
Following a few days after the new moon, the crescent moon signifies the start of Ramadan.Credit: Om Rathore/Shutterstock

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Throughout history, humans have recognized that the night sky has the ability to mark moments of significance. For Muslims, for instance, the sighting of the moon has long signaled the start of the month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and religious reflection that traces its roots to the seventh century C.E.

Since then, Muslims have turned to the skies to guide their Ramadan observances. So how, specifically, has astronomy informed the traditions of Ramadan, and how has that changed over time?

Read More: Why Astronomy is Considered the Oldest Science

The ninth month in Islamic tradition, Ramadan is a time of religious renewal. It represents a part of the Islamic lunar calendar, also known as the Hijri calendar, a 12-month calendar of around 354 days that aligns with the monthly cycles of the moon’s phases. During Ramadan, many of the world’s approximately 1.8 billion Muslims fast from dawn to ...

  • Sam Walters

    Sam Walters is the associate editor at Discover Magazine who writes and edits articles covering topics like archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution, and manages a few print magazine sections.

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