Astronomical Almanac
Description and astronomical data for prayer times
What is an Almanac?
An almanac is a table or book containing astronomical information and data on recurring events throughout the year. In the Islamic context, almanacs are used to calculate prayer times, positions of the sun, moon, and other astronomical events.
The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) uses astronomical data to calculate accurate prayer times for each zone in Malaysia.
Position of the Sun
Prayer times are calculated based on the position of the sun relative to the location on earth. Latitude and longitude coordinates are used to determine sunrise, sunset, and zenith times.
Position of the Moon
The position of the moon is used to determine the beginning of the Hijri month. Moon sighting is conducted to determine the start of Ramadan, Shawwal, and Zulhijjah.
Prayer Time Zones
Malaysia is divided into 67 prayer time zones. Each zone has geographic coordinates used to calculate accurate prayer times.
Calculation Formula
Prayer times are calculated using astronomical formulas that take into account geographic position, altitude, and Earth's orbit anomalies.