Overcast Skies and Rain Mean Ramadan Crescent Unlikely to Be Seen in Bandung

The skies over Bandung were forecast to be insufficiently clear to welcome the appearance of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah. Thick clouds and the potential for light rain were predicted to blanket the city, making the chances of sighting the young crescent moon increasingly slim.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Bandung Geophysics Station estimated that the Ramadan crescent would not be observable in Bandung during the rukyat (moon sighting) scheduled for the day.

“Based on BMKG weather forecast data, on 17 February 2026 the weather in Bandung Wetan sub-district, Bandung, is expected to bring light rain in the afternoon from 13.00 to 19.00 Western Indonesian Time,” said Teguh Rahayu, Head of the Class I Bandung Geophysics Station.

Nevertheless, the rukyat process was still carried out. On 17 February 2026, the BMKG Bandung Geophysics Station conducted observations at the Albiruni Observatory of Universitas Islam Bandung (Unisba) together with the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Regional Hisab Rukyat Body.

“The mechanism for hilal observation to determine the start of the Qomariah (Hijriah) month by the BMKG involves the use of computerised telescopes integrated with information technology,” he explained.

During the process, the brightness of the crescent light is recorded by a detector mounted on the telescope. The equipment automatically tracks changes in the moon’s position on the western horizon.