All photos shown on this page were taken with Olympus E-M10, except where otherwise noted, using either the basic 14-42 mm lens or the telephoto 40-150mm lens.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon above the Aga Khan Park on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
Would I once again keep awake for the entire night taking photos of the New Moon in the skies above the Aga Khan Park, as I had done on the night of July 4 for the Full Moon? That 8 hour period turned out to be a lesson in photography for me, and raised my interest in the Night Sky! I am now fascinated by it and am beginning to learn more about the planetary movements and their positions in the sky from the website http://www.timeanddate.com, where you can enter your city location to learn about the night sky above you!
Disappointingly, the New Moon rising on Monday, July 20, 2020 took place at 5:30 AM, with an illumination of just 0.1% — and without a proper telescope you would hardly see it, even on a clear night, let alone at 5:30 in the morning! It was scheduled to set at 9:15 PM. I learnt that Chandraat — the ceremony observed once a month by Ismaili Muslims to mark the New Moon and of course the commencement of the new Muslim month of Dhul-Hijjah — was going to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday. Even then, the illumination was going to be around 1.5%, increasing to 5.3% on Wednesday, July 22. I showed up at the Aga Khan Park on both of those days but there was cloud cover!
Story continues after photos
EDWARDS GARDENS, TORONTO
The beauty and charm of Edwards Gardens, where I spent the day, July 23, 2020, before heading to the Aga Khan Park later that evening. The botanical garden is located only 3.5 kms from the Aga Khan Park, only an 8 minute drive away. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
The beauty and charm of Edwards Gardens, where I spent the day, July 23, 2020, before heading to the Aga Khan Park later that evening. The Garden is located only 3.5 kms from the Aga Khan Park, only an 8 minute drive away. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
The beauty and charm of Edwards Gardens, where I spent the day, July 23, 2020, before heading to the Aga Khan Park later that evening. The botanical garden is located only 3.5 kms from the Aga Khan Park, only an 8 minute driveaway . Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
The beauty and charm of Edwards Gardens, where I spent the day, July 23, 2020, before heading to the Aga Khan Park later that evening. The botanical garden is located only 3.5 kms from the Aga Khan Park, only an 8 minute drive. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.Camera Nikon, Coolpix P510.
An annoying raccoon at Edwards Gardens that came after everyone’s bags and didn’t feel scared! I was merely carrying newspapers. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.Camera Nikon, Coolpix P510.
The beauty and charm of Edwards Gardens, where I spent the day, July 23, 2020, before heading to the Aga Khan Park later that evening. The botanical garden is located only 3.5 kms from the Aga Khan Park, only an 8 minute drive away. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
By now, I had downloaded a compass app onto my iPhone, and I knew exactly where, for example, WNW 310 degree and with altitude of 35% was! But it was not to be until Thursday, July 23, on a clear sky, that I was able to take my first photo of the crescent moon that now had reached an illumination of around 12.3%! I returned again on July 24th — the crescent moon illumination had jumped to 21.3%.
Earlier during the day, I spent some time at the Edwards Gardens, located just a 5 minute drive from the Aga Khan Park, so I have included a few photos of the trees, flowers and streams that I took at the beautiful Toronto botanical garden.
An image of the Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE (Comet NEOWISE) captured above the tree line of Lone Pine Lake, located on the Mount Whitney Trail in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The photo was taken at 4:59 am on July 14, 2020. Visiting from the distant parts of the solar system, it’s characterized by a glowing tail and is visible during the month of July. The comet returns in 6,800 years. Image Credit: NASA / Lauren Hughes.
The much talked about comet Neowise has been in the sky for the past few days but I was unable to spot it, although I knew its exact location with the compass app. Catching a glimpse of Neowise will be once in a lifetime opportunity as the next time it will pay earth a visit will be in 6,800 years! The photo shown above is from the NASA website, www.nasa.gov.
Here, then, are some photos from my 90-120 minute stay on both July 23 and July 24 at Aga Khan Park and the Ismaili Centre.
PHOTOS OF CRESCENT MOON AT AGA KHAN PARK AND ISMAILI CENTRE, JULY 23-24, 2020
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon seen in the distant at right of the Ismaili Jamatkhana Dome on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
8:30 -10:30 PM: The Crescent Moon over the Aga Khan Park on July 24, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon above the Aga Khan Park on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: A view of the Crescent Moon from the Aga Khan Park on July 23, 2020, behind the flags of the Ismaili Imamat, the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and the Canadian Maple Leaf (not shown). Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon seen from underneath the Ismaili Centre front entrance canopy on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon above the Ismaili Centre, with a jet flying overhead on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: A jet flies over the Aga Khan Park on July 23, 2020. The flag of the Ismaili Imamat is seen at left, above the trees. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon above the Ismaili Centre on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Aga Khan Museum building, with lighted tress surrounding the Aga Khan Park ponds adding to its beauty, on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The dome of the Ismaili Jamatkhana, part of the Ismaili Centre Toronto; photo taken July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
8:30 -10:30 PM: The Crescent Moon reflected in a pond at the Aga Khan Park on July 24, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon through trees at the Aga Khan Park on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
More photos after quote
A QUOTE OF MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
“During your lifetime, you and probably more your children are going to face a revolution which will be somewhat like the Industrial Revolution in Britain, but it will be of a far greater consequence. For those in astronomy, geology, mechanics, radio, television, printing, this is such a thorough revolution that if you want to be able to comprehend it and yet to be able to keep for your children the values which you have in life, you have to have a source for these values which your children can live to. When you think that you will be able to leave this world, and spend the weekend on the moon or Venus or something like that, this is a fact which may be very far from you today, but I want you to understand this is not a thought which will be far from your children.” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Dar es Salaam, 1959.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon above the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
A collage of the Crescent Moons composed from four distinct moon shots captured on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
8:30 -10:30 PM: The Crescent Moon seen through trees at Aga Khan Park on July 24, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
8:30 -10:30 PM: The Crescent Moon reflected in one of 5 ponds at Aga Khan Park, on July 24, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
9:09 -10:40 PM: The Crescent Moon seen just above the circular wall of the Ismaili Jamatkhana building on July 23, 2020. Photo: Malik Merchant / Simergphotos.
Date posted: July 26, 2020.
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8 thoughts on “My Beautiful Moments with the Crescent Moon at Aga Khan Park and The Ismaili Centre, After an Invigorating Walk at Edwards Gardens”
Farah Tejani on said:
Breathtaking and astonishing collection of photos, Malik Bha!!! I am just as moved by the crescent Moon pictures as I am by the ones of nature at its finest. Two ducks hunting with ripples symmetrically around them and a mischievous raccoon spotted in the greenery and bushes around him. Your dedication to capturing the crescent Moon in the night sky is commendable! With your trusty camera you are a hunter and your prey doesn’t stand a chance!
Awesome photos. A reassuring sign from the Almighty during these uncertain times. To think that the whole World is viewing this at night truly makes one feel connected to the rest of humanity.
It made me reflect on the Agakhan Musem’s Moon Exhibit which talked about the deep significance of the Moon in Islam and other in religions/ cultures.
Thanks Malik for your dedication and photography skills!
Nasreen (Vancouver)
Thank you for sharing these magnificent and breathtaking pictures of the Crescent moon and the beauty of nature, which we would have never experienced being at home. May Mawlana Hazar Imam accept your seva during these difficult times. The piece reminds us of the Creator and makes us humble. We are truly fortunate to enjoy the blessings of His creation.
Breathtaking and astonishing collection of photos, Malik Bha!!! I am just as moved by the crescent Moon pictures as I am by the ones of nature at its finest. Two ducks hunting with ripples symmetrically around them and a mischievous raccoon spotted in the greenery and bushes around him. Your dedication to capturing the crescent Moon in the night sky is commendable! With your trusty camera you are a hunter and your prey doesn’t stand a chance!
Amazingly beautiful!
Pyarali Assani: Beautiful; great pictures.
So beautiful and serene.
Awesome photos. A reassuring sign from the Almighty during these uncertain times. To think that the whole World is viewing this at night truly makes one feel connected to the rest of humanity.
It made me reflect on the Agakhan Musem’s Moon Exhibit which talked about the deep significance of the Moon in Islam and other in religions/ cultures.
Thanks Malik for your dedication and photography skills!
Nasreen (Vancouver)
This is an extraordinary piece. I really love the beauty of the moon and the gardens and will share it with others.
Thank you for sharing these magnificent and breathtaking pictures of the Crescent moon and the beauty of nature, which we would have never experienced being at home. May Mawlana Hazar Imam accept your seva during these difficult times. The piece reminds us of the Creator and makes us humble. We are truly fortunate to enjoy the blessings of His creation.
Just an extraordinary photography with such beauty and reflecting nature and Allah’s creation. Thank you for sharing.