RADAR BLITAR – A Blitar moon sighting attempt to determine the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijri failed after clouds obscured visibility during official observations on Monday evening.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs conducted simultaneous crescent observations across the country. In Blitar, officials monitored the sky from the rooftop of Hotel Santika Blitar, the same site used in previous years.

Observers began the rukyat session at 5 p.m. local time. However, they did not detect any sign of the crescent moon due to overcast conditions.

Kanzul Fathon, head of the Blitar city Religious Affairs Office, confirmed that observers failed to see the hilal during the session.

“In Blitar, observers did not succeed in seeing the crescent because clouds covered it. Visually, the hilal was not visible,” he said.

He added that astronomical calculations also showed unfavorable conditions. The crescent’s position in Blitar measured around minus one degree, far below the visibility threshold.

“Based on calculations, it is still at minus one degree. This makes the chance of visibility extremely small,” he said.

Following the failed sighting, local authorities submitted their observation results to the central government. Indonesia determines the start of Ramadan through a national isbat (confirmation) session led by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Blitar officials said they would follow the national decision, since other regions might still report successful sightings.

“We are waiting for the national isbat session result. Other regions may have seen the crescent,” Fathon said.