The date for the start of Ramadan in the UK has been forecast by Islamic officials. But there appears to be some disagreement on whether or not the moon will be visible. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and comes after Shaban. It entails dawn-to-dusk fasting from food, drink and sex, with a focus on prayers, spiritual reflection, religious study and good deeds instead. As we pass the halfway point of the current month, marked by the holiday of Mid Shaban and the observance of Shab e Barat, worshippers are increasingly aware that Ramadan is not far away. READ MORE: Moonsighting experts and members of the public will be out looking for the first faint crescent of the new moon on the 29th day of Shaban, which is Friday, February 28. Some officials have said a moonsighting is unlikely in the UK "by any means" on that evening, which would suggest that Shaban continues for one more day and Ramadan starts on Sunday, March 2. However, the HM Nautical Almanac Office, a UK agency that provides astronomical information to government officials, the armed forces, and diary/calendar manufacturers, says it may be possible to see the crescent in British skies if using a telescope. The astronomers said: "The instant of the new moon takes place on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 00:45 Universal Time [which is currently the same as UK Greenwich Mean Time]. "Telescopic sightings of the crescent moon with small, conventional amateur-sized telescopes are possible on Friday, February 28, from as far east as westernmost parts of the Saudi Peninsula, eastern and central parts of Africa and western part Europe including the United Kingdom and Ireland (except Scotland). "Optical aid may be needed to find the crescent moon the same day from northern and western parts of Africa and central parts of South America. "Sightings with the naked eye under excellent conditions should be possible from the westernmost parts of Africa, the north Atlantic region, most of the northern part of South America and northern Canada. "Easy sightings the same day should be possible from the northernmost parts of South America, Central America, the United States, western Canada and the Pacific Ocean region to the east of the International Date Line." This suggests that the moon may be sighted in the UK, as well as in other countries such as Morocco and Saudi Arabia, with Ramadan then starting the next day, on March 1. Where the moon is not seen, Ramadan would be the day after. The data indicates that on February 28 in Birmingham , sunset will be 5.45pm, moonset at 6.35pm and the crescent could be visible using an optical aid such as a telescope. The next day, March 1, sunset will be at 5.47pm, moonset at 8.06pm and the crescent will be easily visible. Similar timings apply elsewhere in the UK. For those who don't see the moon the night before, its clear visibility with the naked eye on March 1 will confirm that Ramadan starts the following day, March 2. Catching a glimpse of the crescent in the skies also provides a spiritual experience that has great significance for heralding the beginning of the new month with its commitment to fasting and greater religious focus. In the USA and Canada, the moon should be easily visible on February 28, but they are in time zones that are five to 10 hours behind the UK. So by the time they see the moon and declare their Ramadan as March 1, it would already be the next day in the UK. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp . Join our dedicated community for the most up-to-date news from across the city. You can also sign up to our Brummie Muslims newsletter for the latest updates on Ramadan, Eid and key dates throughout the Islamic calendar.