The Astronomical New Moon (conjunction) of the new Hijri month of Shaaban will occur on Friday the 6th of May 2016 at 19:29 UTC.
However, it is possible but difficult to see the moon in the Americas; while the only possibility of easy sighting is in Hawaii and Polynesian Islands.
The rest of the globe including all the 66 Muslim Countries of the Islamic World won’t be able to see the new crescent on Yawm Al-Ro’yah (observing Day) which takes place on Friday the 6th of May because the crescent won’t appear before sunset on that day.
On the other hand, On Saturday the 7th of May, the moon can be seen easily in almost the whole world. As a result, the first day of Shaaban shall be Sunday the 8th of May 2016.
Shaaban is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. This is the month of “separation”, so called because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water.
The Hijri calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Hijri lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Shaaban migrates throughout the seasons.
A new Hijri month starts when the First Crescent appears before sunset by a time gap of a few minutes at minimum.