Satellites to ascertain Moslem holidays

Photographic images of the Moon will enable the Moslem countries to reconcile their differences.
According to reports published by Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Moslem countries will use satellite technologies for specifying exact times of the Moslem holidays. OIC is planning to deploy into orbit an $8 million satellite within the next two years. The satellite will take detailed photographs of the Moon in order to define exact dates of the lunar calendar.

Precise photographic images of the Moon will enable the Moslem countries to reconcile their differences and avoid making mistakes while defining dates of the religious holidays. Saudi Lunar Observations Society disappointed millions Moslems when it said that it had miscalculated a date of the hajj in January this year.

OIC will finance the above project initially launched by Cairo University's Space Science Center. The satellite will be also used for conducting research on asteroids. It will built by an Italian company. Some members of the Saudi religious community are not happy about the new technology. They normally use the standard lunar calendar.