Karachi astronomer’s moon images feature on Nasa website

[Maarkhoor]

A COMPOSITE of 12 single images of the moon taken by Talha Zia in Pakistan over a period of one year from Nov 2016 to Oct 2017.—Image courtesy Nasa APOD



KARACHI: An NED graduate and young amateur astronomer from Karachi, Talha Zia’s composite of 12 single images documenting the full moon has been displayed on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (Nasa) Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).

The 12 full moons captured by Zia, according to Nasa’s website, represent “every lunation from 2016 November through 2017 October, as imaged from Pakistan.”

As all the consecutive full moons are captured at the same scale, the images highlight the changes in its apparent size.

Zia has been interested since childhood in physics and astronomy and in 2015 joined the Karachi Astronomers’ Society to further explore his interest.

Speaking about the significance of the images, Zia explained, “They tell us how the size of moon varies during one year as seen from Earth. It shows the elliptical (non-circular/oval) orbit of the moon as confirmed from size variation, as well as tells us the nearest (perigee) and farthest (apogee) points of the moon’s orbit around Earth and hence explains the super moon of Nov 2016 and micro moon of June 2017.”

Another interesting element captured in Zia’s images is the partial lunar eclipse visible on the Aug 2017 full moon.

Zia explained how the photos “were taken at different timings due to weather and atmospheric conditions. I have mentioned the date and timings of each of the 12 images in my composite image”.

Another of his images of the moon has been displayed on EarthSky.org in celebration of International Moon Observing Night on Oct 28, 2017. He contributed from Pakistan.

Without any fancy equipment, Zia has achieved this through dedication and consistency, as well as hard work.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2017

 

[Maarkhoor]

@Khafee @war&peace @django @Well.wisher @Divergent @Burhan Wani

 

[Safriz]

Lahore astronomers can only see the smog

 

[Maarkhoor]

Lahore astronomers can only see the smog

Smog is gone bro with the first rain.

 

[Sucha Kuggu]

I am thinning importing telescopes for newbies with deep pockets and nothing to do.

کافر کی یہ پہچان کہ آفاق میں گُم ہے
مومن کی یہ پہچان کہ گُم اُس میں ہیں آفاق!
_______
Kafir ki yeh pehchan keh afaq mein goum hai
Momin ki yeh pehchan keh goum uss mein hein afaq

 

[My-Analogous]

Lahore astronomers can only see the smog

These smog are not ordinary smog, these are gift from Dehli and wait for another year next year it will be more then this year. Pakistan must raise his voice on this issue and restrict Delhi for this industries pollution and ask international bodies to restrict them