{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Muslims the world over wait for the new moon to mark start of Ramadan' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54cac7d8eafeecae19eccf' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54cac7d8eafeecae19eccf' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nMuslims the world over wait for the new moon to mark start of Ramadan\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eLEAD INThe Muslim holy month of Ramadan is approaching. The month of fasting starts at a different time each year, dictated by the sighting of the crescent moon.STORY-LINE: Residents of Beirut stocking up on food before the start of...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eLEAD INThe Muslim holy month of Ramadan is approaching. The month of fasting starts at a different time each year, dictated by the sighting of the crescent moon.STORY-LINE: Residents of Beirut stocking up on food before the start of Ramadan. In Tehran, people are preparing the mosque at the city's university. It's a custom practiced in Iran in the days leading up to the holy month of fasting.Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslims refrain from food and drink from dawn to dusk.It begins this week, either on Wednesday or Thursday.Dr Abdul Aziz Belattar is Head of Public Relations and Media of the Muslim Association of Britain in Manchester. He explains that in Islam the 9th month of the year is calculated using the lunar calendar which has months of no more than 29 or 30 days making it 10-11 days shorter than the Gregorian - or solar calendar used widely in the West.\"We have a connection with the sky and the moon and the sun. And God has dedicated one chapter for the Moon and one chapter for the sun. There are two signs of creation and we see them on a daily basis. Therefore the Moon is quite important part and parcel to define the beginning of special months. Amongst them is the month of fasting which is Ramadan.\"The exact start time of Ramadan varies slightly depending on differing sects within Islam, but it is focused on the start of the new moon during the 9th month of the lunar calendar.  The fast period starts the day after the sighting of the crescent moon that marks the beginning of a new lunar month.Dr. Belattar says that in modern times the use of telescopes and other optical aids help pinpoint the exact time of Ramadan in advance, but many still use the old rule of thumb, which is to try to spot the new sliver of moon in the sky.Professor Tim O'Brien, and Associate Director for Manchester University's Jodrell Bank Observatory explains why that is often a very difficult task. \"So as the Moon goes around the Earth, as we look at it, it goes round the Earth once a month roughly, and it's lit from one side by the sun. So, if you can imagine, as it's on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, it's sort of lit full on by the sun. So, as we see it, it appears as a full moon. The whole side of the Moon that's facing towards us is illuminated. As it goes around and it's sort of side on to the sun, it's lit from one side and so you see half a moon, and then when it's more towards the moon in the sky really it's being lit ...the far side of the Moon is being lit ....and the side facing towards us is in shadow. And so what we see is a thinner and thinner crescent as the Moon approaches the sun. And in fact when the Moon is very close to the sun in the sky, it's very hard to see at all because it's really just lit from the back, and that's the New Moon.\"Dr. Belattar jokes that Muslims living in the West have an even tougher time of it. \"It's  like a joke, somebody said, 'Dr Abdul Aziz, in England we don't see even the sun let alone the crescent,' most of the time it's cloudy. If we don't see it we count 30 days and then we declare after that day the 1st of Ramadan.\"For scientists the moon is Earth's natural satellite -  a huge ball of rock that orbits around our planet and controls our oceans.  Professor O'Brien describes it as the largest moon compared to its planet anywhere in the solar system. It is believed to have formed billions of years ago, not long after the formation Earth, when a planet the size of Mars crashed into the earth, ripping out a chunk that solidified in orbit around the planet. As much as is known scientifically about our moon, O'Brien says there is much, much more yet to be discovered. \"There are still mysteries. You might have noticed that the Moon always keeps one face towards us. It's tidally locked. So this tide force that acts between the Earth and the Moon is basically made it stick with one face towards us so we never see the far side of the Moon.\"But its presence in the sky over the next few days will mark a month of reflection, restraint and holiness for millions of Muslims.\"When we see a new Moon we have a prayer. We say, 'O God make this new Moon full of goodness to us. Your Lord and our Lord is God.' We speak to the Moon. Your Lord and our Lord is God. This is a prayer the Prophet brought us. Therefore when we see a new Moon we always pray for goodness. It's a month of goodness,\" says Dr. Belattar. AP TELEVISIONBeirut, Lebanon - 15 June 2015 1. Various of Beirut vegetable market2. Top shot of Ramadani village, where poor people can eat for free3. Various of workers preparing Ramadan decorations4. Mid of workers setting up tables at Ramadani village5. Traffic passing exterior of Ramadani villageAP TELEVISION - NO ACCESS BBC PERSIAN TV SERVICE / NO ACCESS VOA PERSIAN TV/NO MANOTO 1 ++AP Television is adhering to Iranian law that stipulates all media are banned from providing BBC Persian or VOA Persian any coverage from Iran, and under this law if any media violate this ban the Iranian authorities can immediately shut down that organisation in Tehran.++Tehran, Iran - 14 June 20156. Close of men's feet as they clean mosque floor with brooms7. Various of men sweeping mosque8. Close of hand wiping cover of Quran9. Low-angle of men dusting Qurans and other sacred prayer books10. Mid of man dusting book shelf11. Wide spraying rosewater on mosque pillars which have Quran verses written on themAP TELEVISIONManchester, UK, June 12, 201512. Mid meeting inside Muslim Youth Foundation13. Close Dr Abdul Aziz Belattar, Head of Public Relations and Media, MAB, Manchester (Muslim Association of Britain) UPSOUND: \" Fast when you see the crescent. And break your fast when you see it again.\"14. Close TV screen showing visibility of the Moon15. Close Islamic books16. Close the Quran17. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Abdul Aziz Belattar, Head of Public Relations and Media, MAB, Manchester (Muslim Association of Britain)\"We have a connection with the sky and the moon and the sun. And God has dedicated one chapter for the Moon and one chapter for the sun. There are two signs of creation and we see them on a daily basis. Therefore the Moon is quite important part and parcel to define the beginning of special months. Amongst them is the month of fasting which is Ramadan.\"AP TELEVISIONTunis - 27 June 201418. Pan of Tunis from Sidi Belhassen mausoleum hill. 19. People setting up telescope for moon observation20. Telescope's viewfinder21. People gathered next to mausoleum22. Mid Director of Geophysics and Astronomy at the National Institute of Meteorology, Samir Ben Abdallah, looking through telescope trying to spot the moon23. Map showing the only area where the crescent moon could be seen24. Diagram explaining how to proceed for observationAP TELEVISIONJodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK, June 15, 201525  Mid Professor Tim O'Brien, Associate Director, Jodrell Bank Observatory looking at sign / dish26. Close Professor Tim O'Brien, Associate Director, Jodrell Bank Observatory27. Close sign explaining the Lovell Telescope28. SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Tim O'Brien, Associate Director, Jodrell Bank Observatory\"So as the Moon goes around the Earth, as we look at it, it goes round the Earth once a month roughly, and it's lit from one side by the sun. So, if you can imagine, if it's more or less on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, it's sort of lit full on by the sun. So, as we see it, it appears as a full moon. The whole side of the Moon that's facing towards us is illuminated. As it goes around and it's sort of side on to the sun, it's lit from one side and so you see half a moon, and then when it's more towards the moon in the sky really it's being lit ...the far side of the Moon is being lit ....and the side facing towards us is in shadow. And so what we see is a thinner and thinner crescent as the Moon approaches the sun. And in fact when the Moon is very close to the sun in the sky, it's very hard to see at all because it's really just lit from the back, and that's the New Moon.\"AP TELEVISIONAbu Dhabi, UAE - 27 June 201429. Close-up of Saadulddin Alamuddin, Abu Dhabi resident, looking through viewing lens30. Mid of girl, name not given, looking through viewing lens31. Nezar Hazam Sallam, Astronomer, showing man viewing techniqueAP TELEVISIONManchester, UK, June 12, 201532. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Abdul Aziz Belattar, Head of Public Relations and Media, MAB, Manchester (Muslim Association of Britain)\"It's  like a joke, somebody said, 'Dr Abdul Aziz, in England we don't see even the sun let alone the crescent,' most of the time it's cloudy. If we don't see it we count 30 days and then we declare after that day the 1st of Ramadan.\"AP TELEVISIONUndated++MUTE++33. Zoom in full moon AP TELEVISIONRotterdam, 29 July 200834. Various of crescent moonAP TELEVISIONJodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK, June 15, 201535. SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Tim O'Brien, Associate Director, Jodrell Bank Observatory\"There are still mysteries. You might have noticed that the Moon always keeps one face towards us. It's tidally locked. So this tide force that acts between the Earth and the Moon is basically made it stick with one face towards us so we never see the far side of the Moon.\"AP TELEVISIONTunis - 27 June 201436. Various of people praying37. Imams talking together AP TELEVISIONManchester, UK, June 12, 201538. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Abdul Aziz Belattar, Head of Public Relations and Media, MAB, Manchester (Muslim Association of Britain)\"When we see a new moon we have a prayer. We say, 'O God make this new Moon full of goodness to us. Your Lord and our Lord is God.' We speak to the moon. Your Lord and our Lord is God. Therefore this is a prayer the Prophet brought us. Therefore when we see a new Moon we always pray for goodness. It's a month of goodness.\"AP TELEVISIONTunis - 27 June 201439. Tilt down of Al Amin mosque in central Beirut40. 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