Online Moon Streaming to Help Settle Disputes Over Start of Ramadan

Have you ever wondered how Muslims in Indonesia determine the first day of Ramadan? Basically, it’s based on the crescent moon’s (hilal) position on the horizon. But the tradition of viewing the moon with the naked eye now has shifted thanks to some technological advances. This year Muslims in Indonesia can participate in the observation through online streaming.

The Department of Communication and Information is cooperating with Telkom, Bosscha Observatory and the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences at Bandung Institue of Technology to provide live streaming of the hilal) observation. The web video is relayed from 15 observation points, such as SPD Lapan Biak (Papua), Denpasar (Bali), Yogyakarta, Bosscha Observatory (West Java), and Lhoknga (Aceh).

Although it’s not guaranteed that you’ll see hilal, the service gives people an opportunity to participate in hilal observation, especially when poor visibility impedes viewing. Hopefully, the service can provide a better understanding of how the government decides the start of Ramadan each year. With any luck, the disagreements which often arise on this matter can be reduced thanks to this service.

[Photo: alvinburhani.wordpress.com]