There is nothing wrong with using modern equipment to sight the moon

Praise be to Allah.

The shar’i method of proving that the new month has begun is for the people to sight the crescent moon. That should be done by people whose religious commitment and strong eyesight are to be trusted. If they sight it, then it is obligatory to act upon this sighting, by fasting if it is the new moon for the month of Ramadaan and by breaking the fast if it is the new moon for the month of Shawwaal.  

It is not permissible to rely on astronomical calculations if the moon is not sighted, but if there is a sighting, even if it is done by an astronomical observatory, then it counts, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “When you see it then fast, and when you see it, then break the fast.” 

With regard to calculations, it is not permissible to act upon them or to rely on them. 

^th of Sha’baan and the night before the 30^th of Ramadan and look for it by means of a telescope. 

Whatever the case, once it has been proven that it has been sighted by any means, then it becomes obligatory to act upon this sighting, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “When you see it then fast, and when you see it then break the fast.” End quote. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him). 

Fatawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haram (p. 192, 193) 

we have quoted a fatwa from the Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas concerning this issue in the answer to question number 1245, in which it says: It is permissible to use telescopes etc. to sight the moon, but it is not permissible to rely on astronomical data to confirm the beginning or end of the blessed month of Ramadaan. End quote. 

See: Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (9/99) 

Thus it is clear that those who claim that our scholars say that it is haram to use modern equipment to sight the moon and say that it is obligatory to sight it with the naked eye are lying and making things up. 

We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to show us the truth as truth and enable us to follow it, and to show us falsehood as falsehood and enable us to avoid it. 

And Allah knows best.