Navroz (New Year) Greetings to all of Humanity, with Views of the Earth from the Sun on March 21, 2013
THE SPRING EQUINOX
Navroz, Nowruz, Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz Mubarak
In the alternation of night and day, and what God has created in the heavens and the earth — surely there are signs for a godfearing people — Holy Qur’an, 10:6
The Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) on EUMETSAT’s Meteosat-9 captured this view of Earth from geosynchronous orbit. The image shows how sunlight fell on the Earth on March 20, 2011 at 6:12 a.m. local time. Photo: NASA image by Robert Simmon
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A Thought for Navroz
“IT’S ONE WORLD”
BROTHERHOOD (1)
For many of my generation, the greatest technological miracle of this century has been sending men into space, and a remark made by an astronaut on one of the first flights in space has always remained in my mind. Looking down upon the earth he had just left he has said emotionally, “It’s one world.” He was not a Muslim. But this remark substantiated two fundamental aspects of our faith: the limitlessness of God’s power and the brotherhood of man — His Highness the Aga Khan, Acceptance of the Charter of Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, March 16, 1983.
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THE EARTH ON 21ST MARCH 2013: CYLINDRICAL PROJECTIONS AND SPHERICAL VIEWS FROM THE SUN
Note: The 2013 spring equinox actually occured on March 20 at 11:02 Universal Time but we are showing projections and view of the earth for March 21, which has been recognized as the International Day of Nowruz.
CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION AT 00:01 UNIVERSAL TIME (UT)
(dark and light shades represent darkness and sunlight)
A note on Universal Time: The times of various events, particularly astronomical and weather phenomena, are often given in “Universal Time” (abbreviated UT) which is sometimes referred to, now colloquially, as “Greenwich Mean Time” (abbreviated GMT). The two terms are often used loosely to refer to time kept on the Greenwich meridian (longitude zero), five hours ahead of USA/Canada Eastern Standard Time.
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THE EARTH VIEWED FROM THE SUN AT 00:01 UT
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BROTHERHOOD (2)
All men, rich and poor, must aid one another materially and personally. This fraternity is absolute, and it comprises men of all colours and all races: black, white, yellow, tawny; all are the sons of Adam in the flesh and all carry in them spark of the Divine Light — 48th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957)
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CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION AT 06:00 UT
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THE EARTH VIEWED FROM THE SUN AT 06:00 UT
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BROTHERHOOD (3)
At a time of global change and uncertainty, including in many regions where Nowruz is celebrated, the message of peace that lies at the core of this observance is especially important. My thoughts are with those communities observing Nowruz under difficult circumstances. This holiday is a reminder that we share a common fate and must work for a better future for all. — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
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CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION AT 12:00 UT
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THE EARTH VIEWED FROM THE SUN AT 12:00 UT
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BROTHERHOOD (4)
O mankind, We have created you male and female, and appointed you races and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely the noblest among you in the sight of God is the most godfearing of you. God is All-knowing, All-aware — Holy Qur’an, 49:13
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CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION AT 18:00 UT
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THE EARTH VIEWED FROM THE SUN AT 18:00 UT
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BROTHERHOOD (5)
A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim; he neither oppresses him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he look down upon or humiliate him. Piety is here (and he pointed to his chest three times)…Allah will not look at your body nor your appearance, rather he will only look at your hearts — Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s)
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EPILOGUE: “NAVROZ MUBARAK”
I say to you all on Navroz, Navroz Mubarak and I want you, at the beginning of this New Year, to try to think a bit ahead in your future. Each Navroz say to yourselves, ‘Have we done our work?’ If you have then I will be very happy indeed — Farman Mubarak, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Rangoon (now Yangon), Burma (now Myanmar), March 21, 1960.
Date posted: Wednesday, March 20, 2013.
Compiled by Malik Merchant (Editor, Simergphotos.com and Simerg.com)
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Credits:
Please click Day and Night Across the Earth – Hosted by the Astronomical Applications Department of the The United States Naval Observatory, this page provides a set of five synthetic images of the Earth’s surface, each from a different perspective, that show the areas in sunlight (day) and darkness (night) at the specified date and time. The images can be produced for any date and time from year 1700 through year 2030.
Also visit www.nasa.gov
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For a complete list as well as links to photo essays published on this blog please visit the home page, www.simergphotos.com
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For a Navroz literary reading, please click Ismaili Devotee Seeks Out His Spiritual Master on Spring Day