Measurement of Subh and Isha at Besut, Kuala Terengganu by using sky quality meter

Abstract

An Islamic prayer time has been extensively investigated by astronomers. However, since there are some issues regarding the different views in the fixation of the altitude of Sun, the twilight angle and the latest issues of an extra eight minutes that need to be added for Subh prayer time, therefore it was being re-calculate again. The purpose of this study is to re-identify Subh and Isha solar angle at Besut, Kuala Terengganu by using SQM-LU-DL and to compare official prayer times with the observations by providing time and angle differences to evaluate the correct time frame of Subh and Isha. This study is focused on the sky brightness that was being measured by using Sky Quality Meter-Lens-USB-Data Logger (SQM-LU-DL) to measure the twilight. The data for 2018 is from April until October. For 2019, there are only two months which are February and March with one minute interval in the range of SQM-LU-DL. The observation of the data is based on the pattern of the graph which is the growth curve by plotting the magnitude of the Sun against time. This data can be related to the altitude of the Sun which is the condition to determine the beginning of Subh and Isha prayers time. As the result, the average of theoretical and quantitative measurements of Isha is 17.59° and 17.80°, while for Subh is around 20.26° and 18.69°.