Latest news with #Shawkat
Khaleej Times
31-03-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Eid Al Fitr: Why Moon sighting, not Shawwal crescent size, matters in declaring end of Ramadan
The Shawwal Moon sighting committee in several countries declared Sunday, March 30, as the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Many in the Islamic world noticed the crescent Moon appearing larger than usual after sunset on the first day of Shawwal. It sparked some confusion in the Arab world over the date of the first day of Eid Al Fitr. To clear any confusion about the Moon's size, Eng Mohammed Odeh Shawkat, Director of the International Astronomy Center, offered a detailed clarification on why the crescent appeared particularly large on Sunday evening, March 30. He said that the primary reason for this visual change lies in the Moon's movement relative to the sun during the final days of the Islamic lunar month. The crescent is farther from the sun when the Islamic month reaches its 30th day. This increase in distance causes the crescent's appearance to be noticeably larger. "The moon's movement over just one day can lead to a significant change in its size," Shawkat wrote on X. Shawkat emphasised that the size of the crescent is not directly tied to the validity of the moon sighting; however, seeing it is essential in determining the start of a new Hijri month. "What matters most is observing the crescent on the evening of the 29th of the month. If the Moon is not visible due to its low altitude and brightness, the 30th day is considered the last day of the month, and the new month begins the following day. On that evening, the crescent will appear relatively high and large." He explained further, "To illustrate this, take the example of the current month of Shawwal: the Moon set on Saturday ten minutes after sunset in the centre of the Arab world. Consequently, most Islamic countries declared that the crescent had not been sighted and that Sunday was the last day of Ramadan." Due to the Moon's movement, since the setting time increases by an average of 50 minutes each day, the crescent on Sunday set more than an hour after sunset, appearing relatively large. Shawkat said, "This does not mean that the beginning of the month is wrong; quite the opposite. The crescent never appears small after sunset on the 30th or the first day of the new Hijri month." On Sunday, March 30, the Moon set 74 minutes after sunset in Riyadh, 82 minutes after sunset in Amman, 81 minutes after sunset in Cairo, and 93 minutes after sunset in Rabat. This extended visibility caused the crescent to appear much larger than previous evenings. So, after sunset on Monday, the first day of Shawwal in most Islamic countries, the crescent will be even larger and remain visible for more than two hours. "It is important to note that this phenomenon is entirely normal and consistent with the natural movement of the moon," he explained. Shawkat also clarified that after sunset on the first day of the new Hijri month, the crescent observed is actually the crescent of the second night. Therefore, it will appear much larger than what would typically be seen on the first night of the new month.
Arab News
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Alia Shawkat promotes projects at Sundance Film Festival
DUBAI: US Iraqi actress Alia Shawkat is at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Utah, the US, to promote her latest projects. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Shawkat attended the premiere of 'Atropia' on Saturday, before hitting the stage with actor Jon Hamm to discuss their Audible original series 'The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery' on Sunday. 'Atropia' is a 2025 American war satire film written and directed by Hailey Gates. The film follows an aspiring actress, played by Shawkat, who works on a US military base that simulates an Iraqi war zone. It is a real concept that the US military employs, with the director telling IndieWire that she 'tried to make a documentary about it first.' 'So I did a lot of research and visited a bunch of the bases. Sort of working my way up the (Department of Defence), and they weren't interested in my documentary. So then I thought it was a subject ripe for satire. I think America's misunderstanding of the people they're invading is inherently comedic,' Gates added. Shawkat also stars in audio thriller 'The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery,' in which Hamm plays Jack Bergin, an FBI agent turned private investigator. The eight-part series, created by John Mankiewicz and directed by Aaron Lipstadt, is a sequel to Audible's cinematic audio drama 'The Big Lie.' The new season debuts on Audible on April 24 and tells 'a riveting tale of corruption and displacement in 1950s Los Angeles,' according to Audible. Hamm is joined by returning cast members Ana de la Reguera and John Slattery, alongside newcomers Shawkat, Omar Epps, Erin Moriarty, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Sosie Bacon, David Giuntoli and Taylor Zakhar Perez. The series is set in 1957, when Bergin finds himself entangled in a web of power, corruption and murder that reaches local government. In a released statement, Shawkat commented: 'I'm proud to be a part of such an outstanding project, and I'm eager for listeners to immerse themselves in this captivating story we've crafted together. I really enjoyed playing in this era with a fast-paced, well-written mystery.'
