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The Karaite Korner
New Moon Report
August 1998

On August 22, 1998 the moon had a lagtime of 17 minutes and illumination of 0.35% at sunset. Given this information the moon could not possibly have been seen under any conditions. No were reports were recieved for this date.

The following reports of New Moon sightings on Sunday August 23, 1998 were recieved:

• An observer saw the New Moon from Petah Tikvah, Israel with the naked eye at 19:21, after sunset.

• Magdi Shamuel saw the New Moon from Ashdod, Israel with the naked eye at 19:25.

• Yitzhak Sergani saw the New Moon from Arad, Israel with the naked eye at 19:30.

• Musa saw the New Moon from Ofakim, Israel with the naked eye at 19:30.

• Yehudah Cohen saw the New Moon from Ramle, Israel with the naked eye at 19:22.

• Nehemia Gordon saw the New Moon from Jerusalem with the naked eye at 19:37. Devorah Gordon saw the New Moon from the same location a few minutes later. Sunset occured approximately 19:14 but was obscured by clouds on the horizon.

Given the above information Rosh Hodesh is the evening of August 23 and August 24, 1998 until sunset. Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel

Some of the reports in this newsletter were collected by Magdi Shamuel of Ashdod, Israel. Magdi Shamuel's article on the Calendar can be seen at:
Karaite Calendar by Magdi Shamuel

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New Moons in 1998 and 1999

The Karaite Jewish organization 'Hizzuk Emuna' has issued the following predictions on Crescent New Moon visibility for the next 13 months. The New Moon should be visible on the evening before each date below; for example, the New Moon should be visible on September 22 in the evening and Rosh Hodesh will be the evening of the 22nd and the day of the 23rd (until sunset).

• September 23, 1998
• October 22,1998
• November 21,1998
• December 21,1998
• January 19,1999
• February 18,1999
• March 19,1999
• April 18,1999
• May 17,1999
• June 15,1999
• July 15,1999
• August 13,1999
• September 12,1999

These predictions are based on a database of actual observations in Israel. Magdi Shamuel has collected over 100 crescent New Moon observations from the last ten years made from various sites in Israel. Utilizing the latest scientific calculations the information from the database is extrapolated and used to predict the visibility of future New Moons. In most instances these predictions are highly accurate. The ongoing monthly observations carried out in Israel is constantly improving the accuracy of these predictions and as we gather more and more field data on "borderline" cases the instances in which predictions are uncertain become fewer and fewer. PLEASE NOTE that the above list consists of PREDICTIONS and NOT actual observations. Over the next year (and beyond) I will continue to report the actual observations in Israel based on information I recieve from Magdi Shamuel. It should be noted that a negative sighting (i.e. when the moon is not seen) often takes place because of poor weather conditions, even in instances in which the moon would otherwise definitely have been visible. A thorough discussion of the issues of lunar crescent visibility by Magdi Shamuel can be found at:

Karaite Calendar by Magdi Shamuel

Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel