Astronomical Forecast: Eid al‑Fitr Expected on Friday, March 20
Tunis, March 6, 2026 – “Astronomically, Eid al‑Fitr will take place on Friday, March 20,” announced Sarra Snoussi, head of the Pavilion Univers at the Cité des Sciences de Tunis (CST), on Wednesday.
In a statement to the Tunisian Press Agency (TAP), Snoussi clarified the precise timing of the moon‑crescent sighting that marks the end of Ramadan:
- Crescent observation: Thursday, 19 March 2026, after sunset (at 18:31 CET).
- This corresponds to the 29th day of Ramadan, 1447 AH (Islamic calendar).
“According to astronomical calculations, the central lunar conjunction will occur on Thursday, 19 March at 02:23 CET. The Moon will set later that same day at 19:15 CET, allowing it to remain visible on the horizon for 43 minutes,” Snoussi explained.
Additional technical details:
- Moon altitude: The Moon will rise to an altitude of 8 degrees above the horizon, which is sufficient for a reliable crescent sighting.
- Crescent age: The lunar crescent will be approximately 16 hours old from the moment of conjunction to sunset.
These observations confirm that the first day of Eid al‑Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, 20 March 2026, based on precise astronomical data.
Keywords: Eid al-Fitr, astronomical calculations, moon crescent, Ramadan 1447 AH, Tunisia, Cité des Sciences de Tunis, lunar conjunction, moon altitude.
