Four countries and astronomical bodies have set the date for the sighting of the Ramadan crescent for the lunar year 1447, with discrepancies regarding whether it starts on Wednesday or Thursday, February 18-19. The International Astronomy Center announced that Turkey, Oman, and Singapore agreed that Wednesday, February 18 will be the final day of Sha'ban, and Thursday, February 19 will mark the beginning of Ramadan. The astronomical calculations indicated that the crescent moon would not be visible on Tuesday, February 17, as it would set before the sun in most parts of the Arab and Islamic world.

In Oman, the official announcement confirmed that Wednesday, February 18 will complete the month of Sha'ban, making Thursday, February 19 the start of Ramadan. The country's observatory highlighted that the sighting of the crescent moon is a fundamental criterion for starting the lunar month. Since the moon will set before the sun on the day of the moon sighting, Oman's decision aligns with the astronomical predictions.

This decision by these countries can significantly impact various religious practices and plans for the month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and reflection for Muslims. The variation in the declared start of Ramadan is not unusual in the Islamic calendar, which relies on lunar observations and calculations that can differ by region, potentially leading to different start dates in neighboring countries.