The 19th of July 2013 marks an important Astronomy event. The event is named “The Day The Earth Smiled (TDTES)”. AWB is proud to coordinate worldwide astronomy events in celebration of The Day The Earth Smiled (TDTES), in cooperation with its founder, Carolyn Porco.

Did the Earth really smiled?

 

From Astronomy Without Borders official website

“The world will be watching on July 19, 2013, as NASA’s Cassini spacecraft snaps Earth’s image from the far side of Saturn.  With the brilliant light of the Sun blocked by Saturn itself, the ringed planet will loom large in the foreground with Earth appearing as a very distant “Pale Blue Dot.”  It’s been done before during Cassini’s nine years in orbit around the ringed planet but this time is very special.  For the first time, Earthlings will know ahead of time that their portrait will be taken by a camera a billion miles away.”

From Cassini Spacecraft – Earth as a Pale Blue Dot

This simulated view from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft shows the expected positions of Saturn and Earth on July 19, 2013, around the time Cassini will take Earth’s picture. Cassini will be about 898 million miles (1.44 billion kilometers) away from Earth at the time. That distance is nearly 10 times the distance from the sun to Earth. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

 An impromptu gathering to Participate in TDTES

One day before, Karachi Astronomers Society core members decided to meet somewhere with their telescope and photographers to participate in TDTES and contribute to the cause. The meeting place was not decided till the last moment, so as a meeting point we gathered at 3 Coins, Hill Park at around 10pm. Some of the people reached after Taraveeh prayers.

The Participants

  1. Mehdi Hussain
  2. Hanif Bhatti
  3. Aqeel Baig
  4. Ramiz Qureshi
  5. Dr. Yaqoob
  6. Irfan Sattar
  7. Abubaker Siddiq
  8. Fahdullah
  9. Babar

The Event

We set up telescope and get the cameras ready for photography. Here are the some of the photos that Mr. Hanif Bhatti and Ramiz Qureshi has taken for TDTES.

 

More Photos?

Find more photos at the following links:

Photos