Key Takeaways
- A solar eclipse will occur and end approximately 25 minutes before sunset on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
- The Ramadan crescent will be positioned very close to the sun, with an elongation of only one degree.
- The celestial event will challenge the traditional visual sighting of the Ramadan 2026 moon.
A solar eclipse will coincide with the anticipated start of Ramadan 1447 AH, potentially complicating the traditional moon-sighting process.
According to Abdullah Al-Khudairi, Director of the Astronomical Observatory at Majmaah University, a solar eclipse will take place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026—the very evening designated for the official sighting of the Ramadan crescent.
The astronomer stated that the eclipse will end approximately 25 minutes before sunset in Riyadh.
Crucially, the new crescent moon will be positioned extremely close to the sun, with an angular separation (elongation) of only one degree at sunset.
This minimal separation, combined with the after-effects of the solar eclipse, is expected to make the Ramadan hilal exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, to observe with the naked eye or telescopes.
This astronomical scenario sets the stage for a sighting challenge for the Supreme Court’s moon-sighting committee.
If the crescent cannot be visually confirmed due to these conditions, the month of Sha’ban will be completed as 30 days.
This would result in Ramadan 1447 AH beginning on Thursday, February 19, 2026, rather than Wednesday the 18th.
The committee’s decision on that Tuesday evening will be final and binding for the start of the holy month in the Kingdom.
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