The NASRDA-Centre for Basic Space Science which is saddled with the responsibility of carrying out scientific observation of the Moon; the nearest celestial object to the Earth, has successfully calculated and predicted that the first astronomical lunar crescent for the month of February, 2025 will appear and may be sighted with unaided eye on FRIDAY, 28th.
Explicitly, the conjunction of the Moon will occur at about 1:45am (1:45hours) on Friday 28th February 2025. However, sighting this very young lunar crescent will be possible under perfect atmospheric conditions as well as the ability of the observer to employ an optical aid (Binocular or Telescope) during the observation.
Precisely, the first lunar crescent that will be visible to an unaided (naked) eye will appear in the evening sky of Friday 28th February 2025 between the hours of 6:17pm and 7:35pm after Sunset across different cities in Nigeria. Because the Moon’s age is still just less than 18-hours after conjunction; it is very important to note that this very young lunar crescent can easily be seen with unaided eye in our evening sky, after it may have been found/spotted/identified with the assistance of an optical aid (Binocular or Telescope).
The first lunar crescent visibility to unaided eye according to States in Nigeria is as follows:
- Maiduguri (Borno State) will be the first to witness the first young lunar crescent from about 6:17pm to 6:48pm.
- This would be followed by Yola (Adamawa State) from 6:21pm to 6:51pm.
- Damaturu (Yobe State) from 6:22pm to 6:53pm.
- Jalingo (Taraba State) from about 6:26pm to 6:56pm
- Gombe (Gombe State) from about 6:29pm to 7:00pm.
- The Lunar crescent will be sighted lastly at Ikeja (Lagos State) from 6:59pm to 7:30pm
- It will be sighted in Abeokuta (Ogun State) between 6:59pm and 7:30pm.
- In Abuja, the first lunar crescent will appear between 6:44pm and 7:15pm, with sunset at about 6:44pm, and moonset at about 7:20pm.
- In Kano (Kano State), the appearance of the first lunar crescent will be experienced between 6:35pm and 7:07pm, with sunset and moonset occurring at about 6:35pm and 7:12pm respectively.
- In Katsina (Katsina State), the first lunar crescent will appear between the hours of 6:38pm and 7:10pm with sunset and moonset at about 6:38pm and 7:15pm respectively.
- In Jos (Plateau State) the crescent will appear between the hours of 6:35pm and 7:06pm with sunset and moonset at 6:35pm and 7:11pm respectively.
- In Enugu (Enugu State), the lunar crescent will appear from 6:42pm to 7:13pm, with sunset and moonset at about 6:42pm and 7:18pm respectively.
- In Kaduna the crescent moon will appear between 6:40pm and 7:12pm, while the sun and moon is expected to set at about 6:40pm and 7:17pm respectively.
- All other States of the federation will experience the lunar crescent between the estimated time of 6:17pm and 7:35pm on Friday, 28th February, 2025.
The results released by the Agency show precise date, appearance time of first crescent, time of sunset as well as moonset for all the State Capitals and the Federal Capital Territory on Friday 28th February 2025.
The statement added that, the calculated results are made available for the information of the general public especially those who would need them for religious and academic purposes. Furthermore, scientific researchers should be at liberty to request for detailed analyses or more results for other cities within the federation other than the State capitals from the Space Agency.