Astroimaging Session Dec16

Last Monday my friend Cliff and I set out to a property owned by their family to do some equipment testing and astro-photography. Cliff  acquired a Celestron AVX mount from one of the MSA members earlier this year but never got to really put it to the test. So the objective of the night was to get the mount to run smoothly. I brought along my Omni XLT 150 to use. We started out early in the site which was a building undergoing construction. The third floor had an amazing clear view with minor obstructions from the distant mountain side. We usually setup in a darker location in mount Sto. Tomas but this site proved to be ideal as well. The light from Baguio City's central business district was shielded from our view and the transparency helped eliminate the sky glow from the nearby houses.

The mountainside to the North was just low enough that we were actually able to see Polaris and do a proper polar alignment (this was the best alignment we've had since Cliff started doing astrophotography). Prior to this Cliff had to make 18 minute adjustments to the AVX to get it to track correctly (could have been due to adjustments made when rough aligned). After the two-star align process we had to input some calibration stars before getting it to track smoothly.

I was also able to get good alignment for my CG4 but unfortunately failed to check on my collimation. I ended up troubleshooting my collimation for the first part of the session.

With both of our scopes properly aligned the test run ended up being a full-fledged imaging session. We got to image the following targets: double cluster, Triangulum Galaxy, Andromeda galaxy, Running man nebula, Flame nebula, de Mairan's nebula, Orion nebula, Horsehead nebula, Pleiades, Rosette nebula, and Collinder 38. We packed up a few minutes after the Moon came up.

False Alarm. I thought I might have accidentally caught a comet, but I realized it was facing the wrong way. Probably a thin cloud or dust trail from a sporadic.

International Dark Sky Week 2019

"The Darkest Nights produce the Brightest Stars"

-John Green

On March 31-April 7 we will be celebrating the International Dark Sky Week 2019 as part of the Global Astronomy Month Celebration. We are encouraging everyone to organize in activities that will promote awareness for the value of dark skies.

Some activities you can do:
Participate in the global citizen-science campaign Globe at Night.

Organize a viewing of videos like "Losing the Dark"

Women and Girls in Philippine Astronomy

In line with the celebration of the United Nations' International Day of Women and Girls, the IAU100 celebrates the Women and Girls in Astronomy. I intended to make a different kind of blog post for today however was not able to find the time to do so. Instead, here is a listing of some of the notable women and girls of the Philippine astronomy community.

Kristine Jane Atienza

Former overall coordinator of the UP Astronomical Society. She is one of the collaborative individuals in the astronomy community working together with different groups and institutions. She is also a founder of the Philippine Union of Student Organizations for Astronomy (PUSO for Astro), and a core member of the Manila Street Astronomers. Kristine also actively takes part in international astronomy conferences and meetings such as those of SEAAN and SGAC. She also spearheaded various projects such as the donation of telescopes to be given to aspiring astronomy groups in the country. Among her current projects is the development of a mobile planetarium for the visually impaired under the IAU Office for Astronomy Development, and the UNAWE Traveling Telescope.

Bernadette Joy Detera

An emerging youth space leader. She is an active member of the Space Generation Advisory Council (be it as a delegate, moderator, or event co-manager), and also the country's current National Point of Contact to SGAC. Bernadette is the former overall coordinator of the UP Astronomical Society, and a volunteer at the Manila Street Astronomers. During her term in UP AstroSoc she was one of the leading students who pushed for the official launching of the PUSO for Astro. She continues to actively support the union even after her term.

Marielle Eduardo

An aspiring astrophysicists. During her undergraduate years in Physics at UP Baguio Marielle has been also active in the astronomy scene. She spent her internship at the PAGASA Observatory looking into variable stars and sunspots. She also participated in several international schools learning more about astronomy and conducting research.

Andreia Carrillo

Currently working for her doctorate at the University of Texas. A PSHS graduate who pursued astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Michigan. She also spent an internship in her first year at the Solar Observation Program of RTU-DESS. She is also organizing web lectures/training in the Filipino Astronomy Group along with Jerome de Leon.

Dr. Reinabelle Reyes

Known as the “Filipina Who Proved Einstein Right” for her work with supermassive blackholes. Dr. Reina is the country's celebrity astrophysicist. Since her return to the Philippines after her post-doc she has been actively giving lectures, handling classes,  working as a data-scientist, and also hosting a science show on TV.


Dr. Jelly Grace Nonesa
Filipina astophysicist who worked on X-ray astronomy and dark matter profiles. She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Southern Mindanao.

Imelda Joson

A pioneering figure in Philippine astronomy, together with Edwin Aguirre. They proposed and drafted the executive proclamation for the National Astronomy Week. Imelda Joson has several contributions to local and international groups, which led them to being the first Filipinos to have an asteroid designated after them (6282 Edwelda).

Johanna Erika Valdueza

Geologist with the passion for the stars. Erika is an amateur astronomer and astro-blogger. Despite physical ailment and a lack of support and local opportunities for her research she pursued her masters thesis on a planetary geology topic. She is an alumnus of the UP Astronomical Society, a member of Manila Street Astronomers, Astronomical League of the Philippines, and Philippine Astronomical Society. She also attends various international trainings and conferences in astronomy

Maria Sobina Yu

One of the active high-school students in the local astronomy scene. She is the founder of the Judenite's Astronomical Organization. She is a member of the Astronomical League of the Philippines, Philippine Astronomical Society, and participate in various astronomy projects like the asteroid search campaign, or the Astronomy Translation Network. Sobina is also an astro-blogger.

Ashley Claire Batuigas

This 18-year old student from the University of San Carlos brought to the Philippines India's Society for Space Education Research and Development (SSERD). She is the current head of SSERD Philippines and organized the first Space Camp in Cebu.

National Astronomy Week 2019

26th National Astronomy Week
Feb 17 - 23

Theme: 1sang Siglo: sa Ilalim ng 1sang Kalangitan

Updated: Feb 13 18:08

Pre-NAW Activities
10 Solar Observation Organizers:RTU AstroSoc Location: Rainforest Rave Park	11 TALA Outreach Organizers:RTU AstroSoc Mobile Planetarium Show & Night Sky Observation Organizers:RTU AstroSoc Location: RTU Quadrangle	12	13 Star Trails (Deadline of Submissions) Organizers: UP AstroSoc Ultimate Astronomical Quiz Bowl Organizers: MSU-IIT CED Location: CED Amphitheatre	14	15 Mobile Planetarium Show & contests Organizers:RTU DESS Location: RTU	16 Philippine Telescope Hour Organizers: MSA Venue: Nationwide PAS Opening Ceremonies Venue: Aboitiz Hall, San Beda University Organizers: BSYA & PAS RTU DESS Division Day Organizers: RTU DESS (Tentative)
Official NAW Activities
17 Free Public Viewing Venue: SMBY, MOA Organizers: ALP Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory	18 Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory	19 Exhibit Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory	20 Exhibit Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory	21 Exhibit Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc Research Gala Venue: RTU Organizers: RTU DESS Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory Free Mobile Planetarium shows Organizers: PAGASA Location: Iloilo City	22 Exhibit Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc Research Gala Venue: RTU Organizers: RTU DESS Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory Free Mobile Planetarium shows Organizers: PAGASA Location: Iloilo City Star Party Contest Organizers: PAGASA Location: Iloilo City	23 Free Public Viewing Venue: SMBY, MOA Organizers: ALP Earth and Outer Space Symposium Venue: Aboitiz Hall, San Beda University Organizers: BSYA & PAS UP AstroSoc Culminating Activities Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc Research Gala Venue: RTU Organizers: RTU DESS Free Planetarium Show Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Science Garden Free Stargazing Organizers: PAGASA Location: PAGASA Observatory
Post-NAW Activities
24 Astronomy Convention Venue: NIP, UP Diliman Organizers: UP AstroSoc	25	26	27 Astronomy Night Venue: UST Organizers: UST APSoc, MSA, PUSO	28

On Eclipse Visibility

The year 2019 brings us 5 eclipses which is something people are excited about. However, not all of these are visible in the Philippines. Geographical differences affect our view in the sense that at the moment an eclipse takes place in one side of the globe, the other side of the globe does not see it. Of the 5 eclipses, only two are visible from the Philippines (with one needing a geographical advantage in the South).

Jan 6 Partial Solar Eclipse (Not visible in the Philippines)

Jan 20 Total Lunar Eclipse (Not visible in the Philippines)

July 2 Solar Eclipse (Not visible in the Philippines)

July 17 Lunar Eclipse (Eclipse at Moonset, part of eclipse not visible)

Dec 26 Annular Solar Eclipse (Partial for most of the Philippines, annular from the Southernmost tip of Mindanao)

Eclipses happen when an object of roughly the same apparent size covers the other object. In the case of a solar eclipse the configuration is Sun-Moon-Earth, and for lunar it is Sun-Earth-Moon.

The duration and area covered by an eclipse is dependent on how big the shadow is cast by the eclipsing object. For a lunar eclipse the Earth's shadow is cast on the Moon and since the Earth is much bigger it casts a larger shadow. Any area where the umbral shadow is cast when the Moon passes will see a total lunar eclipse. Now note that the Moon's orbit is tilted with respect to the Sun-Earth plane, therefore the angle in which the Moon passes behind the Earth varies. A lunar eclipse lasts longer when the Moon passes as close to the center of the shadow as possible.

The July 17 Lunar eclipse is partly visible from our reference. From our geographical location on the globe (that's right flat-earther's) the Earth will be rotating us away from the eclipse during the 'Blood Moon' phase. Meaning the Philippines will move or rather rotate to the Sun facing side of the Earth as the rest of the eclipse takes place in view from other geographical locations. From our view it can be seen as an eclipse during Moonset.

In the case of a solar eclipse it is the Moon casting a shadow on the Earth. Now since the Moon is smaller it casts a smaller shadow making the eclipsed area smaller. As a result the geographic location experiencing a solar eclipse is very limited. As you can see in the picture on the right (Image by NASA DSCOVR EPiC Team) the shadow of the Moon only covers a certain region. Since the shadow is relatively small a solar eclipse will only last for a short time.

In the case of the December 2019 Annular Solar Eclipse the image below (Fred Espenak|NASA GSFC) shows the eclipse path and regions of the globe they are visible in. The red band is where the center of the Moon's shadow passes where the eclipse will be seen as an "annulus" or ring. Note that when an annular eclipse happens it means that the Moon is further from the Earth on its orbit, which in turn results to an even smaller shadow. For observers in the Philippines the amount in which the Sun is eclipsed will vary depending on how close you are to the shadow. Observers in Luzon will see less of an eclipse as compared to observers in Mindanao.

Before making the Balut island simulation I ran it for Gen San. Even from Gen San it doesn't appear as an annulus.

Note: I accidentally edited the original post while updating the 2019 NAW calendar. I have tried to redo the general content as how I remember it.