New Moon Crescent:
First reports of the eighth new moon came from Blacksburg, Virginia in the United States on Friday evening, October 24th.
Reports from Israel were first made the next evening, October 25th:
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Confirmed: Virginia
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Forecasted map of calculations from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org |
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Confirmed |
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Forecasted map of calculations from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ http://astro.ukho.gov.uk |
...The Next Expected Crescent Moon Sighting (9th Month):
The following new moon crescent will have the best opportunity for sightings in Indonesia and Malaysia on Sunday evening, November 23rd. This should also be true for Israel-based observers.
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Map from the Astronomical Data Portal (UK Hydrographic Office) @ moonwatch.org |
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Expected Observation Dates of Biblical Festivals 2015:
All dates may vary based upon actual visual confirmation/trumpet call of the new crescent moon & availability of Aviv barley within the region of the Promised Land
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For 2015, the Aviv barley searches will begin in the twelfth month starting in mid-March with the first possible new moon of the year expected on Saturday evening, March 21st in New Guinea. Mature Barley is expected to be found at this time (otherwise, the year will begin with the next sighting in April) making the Annual Appointed dates as follows (all dates posted below begin at sundown the previous evening at the location of the new moon sighting and areas westward as the sun sets):
- First Day of Biblical Year^# (Day 1 of Month 1): March 22, 2015
- Passover/Pesach Seder^ (Day 14 of Month 1): April 4, 2015 Eucharist is observed on the evening of April 3
- First Day of Unleavened Bread/Chag HaMatzot*^ (Day 15 of Month 1): April 5, 2015
- Wave Sheaf/Omer Day# (1st day of the week during Unleavened Bread in Promised Land): April 5, 2015
- Last Day of Unleavened Bread/Chag HaMatzot*^ (Day 21 of Month 1): April 11, 2015
- Feast of Weeks/Counting of Omer (7 Weeks starting with Wave Sheaf Day): April 5 - May 23, 2015
- Pentecost/Shavuot* (50th Day starting with Wave Sheaf Day): May 24, 2015
# Based on barley within Promised Land (Israel) region
* High Day of Convocation (no regular work)
This would then make the Seventh New Moon of 2015 expected on Monday evening, September 14th in Australia. This new moon would mark the arrival of the Fall Festivals on the following dates (all dates posted below begin at sundown the previous evening at the location of the new moon sighting and areas westward as the sun sets):
- Day of Trumpets/Yom Teruah*^ (Day 1 of Month 7): September 15, 2015
- Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur*^ (Day 10 of Month 7): September 24, 2015
- First Day of Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot*^ (Day 15 of Month 7): September 29, 2015
- Last Day of Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot^ (Day 21 of Month 7): October 5, 2015
- Last Great Day/Shemini Atzeret*^ (Day 22 of Month 7): October 6, 2015
* High Day of Convocation (no regular work)