The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has issued its astronomical forecast for the start of Shaaban 1447 AH, stating that the crescent moon is more likely to be sighted on the evening of January 20, 2026, while chances of visibility on January 19 are extremely low.
According to SUPARCO, the new moon will be born at 12:52 AM on January 19, 2026. At sunset on the same day, the moon’s age will be approximately 17 hours and 36 minutes. In coastal areas, the gap between sunset and moonset is expected to be around 33 minutes, which makes crescent visibility very difficult under normal conditions. Based on these factors, SUPARCO noted that the probability of sighting the moon with the naked eye on January 19 remains minimal.
The commission said that conditions improve significantly on Tuesday evening, January 20, which corresponds to the 30th of Rajab, making moon sighting more likely. If the crescent is not observed earlier, the first day of Shaaban is expected to fall on January 21, 2026.
SUPARCO clarified that the final and official decision will be announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after reviewing verified testimonies from across the country. The central committee is expected to meet on Monday evening, January 19, along with zonal and district committees.
The commission also highlighted the introduction of the Ruet mobile application by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which is aimed at modernising and improving the moon sighting process through better coordination and reporting.
