Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir or known as Sheikh Tahir Astronomical Centre is located along Jalan Pantai Acheh in the District of Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang. To be exact, the Centre was situated at the tip on the western part of Penang Island. The Centre was strategically erected on a high ground while facing towards the open sea of the Straits of Malacca. Owing to this salient features, the Centre has the advantages to carry out many astronomical activities including moon sighting as part of their services to the society
Apart from being the official site for Moon Sighting, the Center was formed to undertake and implement the astronomical aspect of life from Muslim perspective and scientific research. Therefore, various activities have been organized like seminar and exhibition throughout the years beside research and studies made on the subject matter such as formulating of the lunar month, study on dusk , atmosphere and galaxies of the universe. Visitors are allowed to the Centre to participate in programmes and activities as organized by the Centre for educational purposes and their general knowledge .
Being established in 1991 ,The Centre took its name after Sheikh Tahir Bin Jalaluddin (1876 -1957), a renowned Muslim Scholar cum astronomer, whom have much contributed his expertise in astronomy to the Muslim world in this region. His son, Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir was the former Governor of Penang from 1989 to 2001.To become one of the prestigious Centre in the northern region, the Centre were equipped with modern facilities accessible for public use such as observation dome, tracker telescopes, accommodation, speech hall, and exhibition gallery.
I had the opportunity to witness the Moon sighting activity for the previous Hari Raya year . As a local resident , it took merely a few minutes drive to reach at the Centre around 6.15 pm. I was lucky as I was allowed to enter the building and without much waste of time, I took a few steps to climb to the observation site situated at the higher floor. It was a breathtaking moment with beautiful panoramic view overlooking the sea of Straight of Melaka and Indian Ocean on the further apart.
At the upper floor, I saw a group of people including officials and staff of The Centre were testing and using the telescope.....tracking...... waiting for the right moment for the baby moon to emerge …..But the weather on that day was not favourable due to cloudy condition and it appeared that the chances of sighting the baby moon is very slim. Once the process of sighting is completed where the baby moon were nowhere sighted, we then proceed to recite a short prayer followed by majlis berbuka puasa among the attendees. Later on we perform a Maghrib prayer for allmighty blessing that we have successfully perfoming the obsevation of moon in fulfilling to our syariah guidelines
Even though It is a very short and simple ceremony but it leave me with a good memory that will stick in my mind for a very long time.
So , for those who are interested to find out more details about the Centre , you can check and visit the Centre at the address & link as per below mentioned,
Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir
Jalan Pantai Acheh
Pantai Acheh
11000, Balik Pulau
Pulau Pinang
Tel no :04-8664836
https://m.facebook.com/pfstpenang/
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