When it is cloudy the first evening they check, they announce on national TV in the evening that the moon was not sighted – the nation heaves a collective big sigh of disappointment and we head to school/work the next day and moslems fast another day…usually though they call it the second day they check even if its cloudy and they will announce Eid to be on the next day – I think its the assumption that the moon will likely be at the spot it needs to be. Once a very long time ago when I was a tween, I remember they called it on the 3rd day but that was very unusual and a topic of national discussion as the delay makes it difficult for planning when one heads to their hometown, or when to start preparing the Eid feasts…this year was the same as the government announced Eid to be one day earlier than anticipated…Previously I never knew the details of where the moon needed to be – only found out yesterday when social media in Malaysia lit up a bit and thought how interesting 🙂