There are two major schools of thought in relation to moonsighting:Calculation– under this school of thought, a new month is announced through calculation based on the birth of the moon.Actual sighting (Ru’yah) – under this school of thought, a new month is announced when someone actually sights the moon with the naked eye.In New Zealand, we have opted for the actual sighting of the new moon/crescent (hilal), based on our research and discussions with many scholars and religious bodies in other countries. Our process is backed and supported by scientific knowledge to ensure that it is indeed possible for someone to have sighted the moon with the naked eye. This provides a balance between the Sunnah of seeing the moon, complemented with a wider understanding provided by our scientific knowledge of the moon and its movements.