Interview with Astrophotographer Br. Shakeel Anwar

How did you first get interested in astronomy?

When I was about eleven years old, my parents bought my older brother a telescope. At some point it broke, and I used it as a hand-me-down. With the safety of a solar filter, I observed the sun through this telescope, and although it was from inside our house and unfocused, I was absolutely amazed to witness sunspots on the surface of our sun. Put simply, sunspots are regions on the sun that temporarily have a lower temperature and a darker colour than surrounding areas. I was amazed that with a basic telescope, I could see an object that was over ninety-three million miles away. Prior to this, our father had introduced us to science fiction shows which had sparked my imagination and made me feel there was a significance to space and time. Looking through my telescope brought me into the reality of that fascinating and exploratory world.



What are some of your achievements in astronomy?

By Allah’s grace, I’ve been able to spark some astronomy interest in others. I gave several talks at Muslim camps when I was younger, focusing on the universe as a sign of Allah’s greatness. Years later I would run into some of those who attended and they would remember me and tell me that I inspired their interest in science. Additionally, friends of mine would recall how decades earlier I showed them objects like Saturn and how they were now showing it to their kids. These types of experiences are what I consider my most satisfying achievements. Science is a part of our Islamic heritage. We connect with Allah when we observe the beauty around us such as a waterfall or a mountain, and for me it’s like that times a hundred when I look at the stars and galaxies, and consider the speeds, sizes and temperatures present in outer space. It’s all easy for Allah as He says in the Holy Qur’an,

Verily, when He intends a thing, His Command is, "be", and it is! (36:82)


Al-Hamdu Lillah I have also won 8 astrophotography awards within the Mississauga chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) over the last 4 years. One year in particular I won in every category. I’m proud that I was recognized by my peers. Last year, I achieved runner up in the national planetary category for my photograph of the International Space Station (ISS) passing in front of the moon. It was my son’s birthday the morning I took that photo, and he came out with me to share in that special moment. Astrophotography has become a way for me to bond with my children, to open up an Islamic aspect for them and to broaden their horizons.

Can you share your top 3 special astronomy memories with us?

a. When I was young, I saw my first comet with my Dad. It was Halley's comet and although it appeared as a fuzzy streak in the sky, I was amazed to know what I was looking at.

b. Once I was observing Saturn through a telescope, and the earth’s atmosphere became so calm and transparent. In that moment, I could see the different colors on Saturn’s rings and it felt like I was floating in space orbiting around Saturn.

c. I was with a friend north of Toronto sitting on a log during the Perseid meteor shower. At one point, we saw a fireball move across the sky. I could hear it burning up in the atmosphere as it went right over our heads. It traveled from horizon to horizon, leaving a smoke trail that lasted five minutes.

d. I was once driving south on highway 410 returning back to the city from taking photographs of the Orion constellation, when suddenly I saw a massive fireball (a sporadic meteor) come down from the sky. As it disintegrated, it lit up the entire sky and I saw such vibrant colors; reds, yellows and greens.

Al-Hamdu Lillah, I am thankful and humbled that Allah gifted me with these special experiences.



How would you summarize what you receive from astronomy?

A sense of awe and connection to the Creator and an appreciation for the laws that govern creation by Allah’s power and will. In the Holy Qur’an, we read about the sky and what it contains. Observing these phenomena enriches our understanding of the Holy Qur’an. Astronomy is empirical and for me, spiritual as well. We learn about measurements relating to distance, size, temperature, and luminosity, but when we witness these phenomena, it stretches our mind to appreciate the magnitude and enormity of Allah’s creation.

Can you mention a couple of points relating to Astronomical Observation compared to Astrophotography?

Observation is the core essence of astronomy; getting out there and seeing these incredible objects and understanding what you are looking at. This has been the awe that has inspired humans to gaze toward the heavens since the dawn of time.

Now with regards to astrophotography, there’s a certain happiness in knowing that you took the photo, even if someone else takes a better photo of the same target with better equipment and know-how. You remember when and where you took your photo. When I see my photo of comet Neowise for example, I remember seeing it with my own eyes and how I felt at the time. There’s a certain pride and sense of accomplishment to it. There’s also a refinement process. You improve on photographing targets and you see your growth. Another important point about astrophotography is that even though our eyes are not sensitive enough to see certain details and colours in various space objects, these details come through in the photos, and this is another joy of astrophotography.

What are some of the factors considered when photographing a sky object?

1) Deciding the target (e.g. planet, moon, nebula, etc.). This governs the type of equipment needed and the difficulty level of the shot.

2) Organize your equipment. There are different types of telescopes, cameras, eye pieces, etc., and based on your intended location you must factor in portability. The combination of this equipment is also important such as matching the correct lens with your camera. A sturdy mount (whether tracking or stationary) is one of the most important (yet often neglected) pieces of equipment; if it shakes there is no good photo at all.

3) Location. You’ll want to get far enough from the city’s lights, yet not too far to the point it becomes unsafe.

4) Planning your shot. It’s good to consider from which direction and time your target will rise, if there is a full Moon out which may wash away some faint details if nebulae are your intended target, how your target object will transit across the sky, and if there is some interesting foreground you can capture (for landscape astrophotograhy). Consider how your entire photograph will look artistically.

5) Taking the actual photo. Every camera is different and one has to know the settings for the camera appropriate to the environment and the target. The environment can change (for example there are pockets of light pollution), so you’ll have to adjust and balance the camera’s exposure time, aperture (how much light the lens lets in) and ISO (the camera's sensitivity to light) appropriately to get the best shot possible.

6) Once you are at home, there are many levels to processing your photographs (e.g. the technique of “stacking”). One tries to increase the signal and reduce the noise. It can take days and multiple software programs to produce one photograph.

The above are just some of the considerations when doing astrophotography.

Please elaborate on one of your photographs.

Photo Credit: br. Shakeel Anwar
Click to enlarge photo.

This is a photo of the Milky Way rising over Manitoulin Island, Ontario.

The glowing bottom is the core of our galaxy that hides a super-massive black hole that powers our galaxy. Our galaxy contains stars, gas, and dust lanes. The dark dust clouds in the photo are obscuring many stars behind it. It’s estimated that there are 100 to 400 billion stars in our galaxy. This photo was taken in the summertime in which you can see brighter stars (e.g. the stars of the summer triangle: Deneb, Altair and Vega, all three of which appear in this photo). The Milky Way appears vertical like this for only a couple months out of the year, whereas at other times it appears at various angles. It was also during the time of the Perseid meteor shower and you can see a meteor in the photo - a faint horizontal line just to the right of the photo’s centre. The small darker purple area at the top of the photo is the North American nebula of which I hope to produce a close-up photograph in the near future insha Allah.

This photo is a stack of six photographs each having had a three-minute exposure. All in all in took about one month of work to produce this photo.

When I was at Manitoulin Island, it was so incredibly dark and clear. As I stood by the water gazing up at what seemed like a river of stars, I recalled how the ancients looked up at this same sky and saw the same beauty. Al-Hamdu Lillah I’m fortunate to have experienced this and I hope that others have the opportunity to experience this as well.

A recent study in which satellites mapped the spread of light pollution (to which LED light is contributing) showed that light pollution is increasing at a faster rate than previously thought. Experiencing the beauty of the night sky is becoming increasingly difficult. I encourage everyone to go to a dark sky area like Manitoulin Island with your families to witness the awe-inspiring night sky.

What advice do you have for those starting the astronomy journey?

Getting binoculars is a good start. They will help you to learn the basics and become familiar with the night sky which you can begin to chart bit by bit. Hold off for a time before you purchase expensive equipment. Not knowing how to properly use equipment (or purchasing low quality equipment) can leave one frustrated thereby eroding one’s interest. Instead, observe the movements of the moon and planets across the sky. With binoculars you can see the Moon, Jupiter and its four largest moons, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebula, double stars, and star clusters such as the Pleiades. Once you become more familiar with the night sky, you can then start investing in some more equipment. I would also recommend joining a local astronomy club where you can possibly learn using a loaner telescope.

What is the astronomy community like?

Members of the astronomy community are very supportive and willing to share their knowledge. Nobody knows everything and everyone is on a learning path. The awe of Allah's creation never diminishes, and it helps people realize their own insignificance. We should all understand that the sky is a collective, universal treasure and an enjoyment that none of us own.

How have you seen the related technology change over the decades?

In the last fifteen years, there’s been a renaissance in astronomy, as a certain level of technology has become available and affordable to amateur astronomers. We can now take photographs, that 25 years ago could only be taken by massive observatories. There’s been great improvement in the optics of telescopes, sensitivity in cameras, and photo processing software. The move from film to digital approximately 15 years ago was paradigm shifting, as now you can instantly check to see if equipment and processes are properly working. The equipment has become smaller and more compact improving its portability. More companies are now in the market, increasing our choices for equipment.

How was the experience teaching astronomy to the youth at the masjid?

By Allah’s grace, I’ve led three workshops teaching youth about astronomy. It’s important to inspire the next generation. This gives them a break from their screens, and gets them excited about science which is a big part of our Islamic heritage. Our deen (religion) encourages science and exploration.

Allah the Most High says in the Holy Qur’an,

Nay, I swear by the places of the stars
And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew (57:75-76)

Understanding the magnitude of the stars helps us to better understand the magnitude of this oath, brings us closer to Allah the Most High, and grants us insight into His Book. It affects us and increases our Iman (Faith). One drop can start to make arid land fertile, and when I teach astronomy to children, I see that interest sparked in their eyes; they are engaged, inquisitive and many already know a bit about astronomy. This is promising and inspires hope.



What level of astronomy would benefit many people, even if they are not extensively pursuing astronomy?

I think it would be beneficial for everyone at minimum to learn about the phases of the moon. It’s interesting in that the moon presents itself differently every time you look at it. People should also learn the basic mechanics of our solar system and the various space objects in relation to one another. In this way as a starting point, everyone can have some idea of what they are observing when look up at the night sky.



How does astronomy refine one's self?

Looking up at the night sky has the potential to encourage humility, inquisitiveness and the expansion of one’s mind and heart. Astronomical observation is experiential, and so witnessing and pondering the signs of Almighty Allah can bring you closer to Him and to your deen (religion). As one scholar said, it results in the transparency of your heart. One becomes attuned to Allah’s creation. This witnessing and reflection is a form of `ibadah (worship).

Al-Fatiha!

You can follow br. Shakeel Anwar’s astrophotography FB page at Unshakable Astro.