Astronomers in the UAE have issued a safety warning ahead of the Ramadan crescent sighting on Tuesday, February 17. They advise the public not to use telescopes or binoculars to observe the moon. The International Astronomical Centre (IAC) in Abu Dhabi explained that the moon will be very close to the sun at sunset across the Arabian Peninsula. This rare alignment follows a solar eclipse earlier that day, greatly increasing the risk of eye injury. The IAC said pointing telescopes or binoculars near the sun without certified solar filters can cause temporary or permanent eye damage, even blindness. They stressed that on February 17, any attempt to view the crescent will likely include direct sunlight in the field of view, which is dangerous for observers and can harm the equipment. Professional observatories avoid looking near the sun without strict safety filters. The angular separation between the sun and moon will be just about one degree in Riyadh, meaning the crescent would appear just half a degree from the sun's edge. Khadijah Al Hariri, Operations Manager at Dubai Astronomy Group, told Khaleej Times that even though the solar eclipse is earlier, the moon stays very close to the sun at sunset. This makes safe observation with telescopes risky. Visibility conditions across the Arabian Peninsula are poor for crescent sighting. In many Saudi cities, the moon’s altitude at sunset is below the levels needed for visibility. For example, in Jazan, the highest moon altitude is just half a degree. By the time the sun sets fully, the moon’s lower edge will already be below the horizon, making the crescent invisible. Astronomers referenced historical lunar visibility standards, including Saudi researcher Mulham Hindi and medieval scholar Ibn Taymiyyah. Both agree that a crescent separated by only one degree from the sun is not visible. The International Astronomical Centre clarified that the moon will be present but the visible crescent—the start of Ramadan—will not be seen on Tuesday. A Qur’anic verse highlights that the crescent must be visible to mark the new month. Given these facts, astronomical experts urge people not to attempt unsafe moon sightings. Only professionals with proper solar filters should try observing the crescent. Most Arab and Islamic countries will try to sight the crescent on February 17. If unsuccessful, the month of Sha’ban will complete 30 days, and Ramadan will start on Thursday, February 19, 2026.