Tunis: The sighting of the crescent moon of Choual of the year 1445 of the Hijri calendar will coincide with a total solar eclipse – when the moon completely covers the face of the Sun – expected on April 8 ( Ramadan 29) at 7:21pm (local time), the National Institute of Meteorology (INM) said.

The total solar eclipse will sweep across the Pacific Ocean, through Mexico, the US and Canada and end over the Atlantic Ocean.

The sighting of the lunar month of Chaoual, the first day of which signals Eid El Fitr, on April 8 after sundown will be impossible. It will visible on April 9 as of 8:56am (Tunis local time).

The INM recalled that al-Ifta Office (Diwan al-Ifta) is the only authority entitled to announce the start of lunar months.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse