Sains Malaysiana 51(10)(2022): 3415-3422

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5110-24

Analysis Data of the 22 Years of Observations on the Young Crescent Moon at Telok Kemang Observatory in Relation to the Imkanur Rukyah Criteria 1995

  (Analisis Data 22 Tahun Cerapan Anak Bulan di Balai Cerap Telok Kemang Berdasarkan Kriteria Imkanur Rukyah 1995)

NAZHATULSHIMA AHMAD^1,*, NUR IZZATUL NAJIHAH MOHAMAD², RAIHANA ABDUL WAHAB³, MOHD SAIFUL ANWAR MOHD NAWAWI³, MOHD ZAMBRI ZAINUDDIN³ & IBRAHIM MOHAMED⁴

¹Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

²Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

³Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁴Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 1 Mac 2022/Diterima: 24 Mei 2022

AbstraCT

The main challenge in the young crescent moon (YCM) observation is the ability to detect the appearance of the YCM, which has varying contrast due to the phenomenon of twilight. The advancement of technology in digital imaging helps the faint and thin image of the YCM to be detected and taken during observation. The techniques used in the observations of the YCM were naked eyes, telescope, and telescope with cameras. A digital imaging technique is also being used in the observations to assist in detecting and recording the image of the YCM more effectively. This paper presents the analysis of the YCM observation data recorded at Telok Kemang Observatory from 2000 to the present. A total of 275 observation sessions were conducted during this study, with 87 positive sightings successfully recorded. The studies found that the smallest elongation and the minimum altitude at sunset of the YCM successfully recorded were 6.81° and 5.40°, respectively. The moon was recorded at an altitude of 3.37°, while the sky is still bright with the sun at an altitude of –2.64° using the digital imaging technique. Based on the records, the YCM which has the minimum criteria of Imkanur Rukyah, i.e., altitude of 2° and elongation of 3° at sunset was never detected or recorded during the 22 years of observations. Therefore, this work suggests the need to change the visibility of Imkanur Rukyah criteria used since 1995 to a more potentially observable criterion. In other aspects, the lengthy observation activities have contributed to the development of a database system for JAKIM that other researchers can access.

Keywords: Digital imaging; Imkanur Rukyah criteria; Telok Kemang Observatory; young crescent moon sighting

ABSTRAK

Cabaran utama dalam cerapan anak bulan adalah keupayaan untuk mengesan kenampakan anak bulan dengan latar belakang langit yang mempunyai kontras yang berbeza-beza disebabkan fenomena senja. Kemajuan teknologi dalam pengimejan digital membantu imej anak bulan yang kabur dan tipis dikesan dan direkod semasa cerapan. Teknik yang digunakan dalam cerapan anak bulan adalah dengan mata kasar, teleskop dan teleskop yang disambungkan dengan kamera digital. Selain itu, teknik pengimejan digital juga digunakan dalam cerapan untuk mengesan dan merakam imej anak bulan dengan lebih berkesan. Artikel ini akan membentangkan analisis data cerapan anak bulan yang direkodkan di Balai Cerap Telok Kemang dari tahun 2000 hingga kini. Sebanyak 275 sesi cerapan telah dijalankan, dengan 87 kenampakan positif berjaya direkodkan. Kajian mendapati anak bulan telah dikesan dengan elongasi terkecil bulan-matahari dan altitud terendah bulan ketika matahari terbenam iaitu masing-masing adalah 6.81° dan 5.40°. Anak bulan tersebut telah direkodkanpada altitud 3.37° semasa keadaan langit masih lagi cerah dengan altitud matahari di bawah ufuk –2.64° menggunakan teknik pengimejan digital. Berdasarkan data yang direkodkan, anak bulan yang mempunyai nilai minimum Kriteria Imkanur Rukyah, iaitu ketinggian bulan 2° dan elongasi bulan-matahari 3° ketika matahari terbenam, tidak pernah dikesan atau direkodkan sepanjang 22 tahun cerapan dijalankan. Oleh itu, kajian ini mencadangkan keperluan untuk menukar nilai kriteria kenampakan anak bulan yang digunakan sejak 1995 kepada kenampakan yang lebih berpotensi untuk anak bulan kelihatan. Dalam aspek lain, aktiviti cerapan yang telah dijalankan dalam tempoh yang lama ini dapat menyumbang kepada pembangunan satu pangkalan data kenampakan kepada pihak JAKIM yang boleh  diakses oleh penyelidik lain.

Kata kunci:  Balai Cerap Telok Kemang; cerapan anak bulan; kriteria Imkanur Rukyah; pengimejan digital

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^*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: n_ahmad@um.edu.my