35th International School for Young Astronomers

From August 25 - September 14, 2013, I was given a chance to become a delegate at the 35th International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA 2013) held in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The activity is organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in cooperation with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) as well as the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). The activity is in line with commemorating the 50th anniversary of LAPAN.

 

The ISYA 2013 is a program of the IAU Commission 46 on Astronomy Education and Development. The program seeks to broaden the participants' perspective on astronomy through international lectures, seminars, practical exercises and observations, and exchange of experiences. The topics discussed in the ISYA include space weather, space science, astrophysics, cosmology, galaxies, observation and instrumentation. The participants belong to a dynamic range from undergraduate to PhD students, including students from different disciplines and cultures.

The ISYA 2013 was a worthwhile learning experience. New things were learned, new friends were made, and new visions for the future of astronomy were instilled in our minds. We all go back to our respective countries carrying with us new insight that will help us educate and develop our local astronomy communities.

The Magnetic Flip

Recent news have been mentioning the upcoming flip of the Sun's magnetic poles.
What is a magnetic flip and how exactly does it happen?

Our sun transfers energy from the core to the radiative zone, and then to the convective zone, and out to the photosphere (the visible disc of the sun). The vertical motion of the plasma in the convective layer causes the magnetic field lines to twist into flux tubes. When the flux tube increases its energy it then rises as an active region. The magnetic field lines arch from these areas from one polarity (+) to the other (-). The magnetic polarities of each active region is similar but reversed in each hemisphere.

Now, the Sun has a solar cycle described as a period of very few magnetic activity followed by increasing activity over a time of 11 years. The year 2013 is the solar maxima which signifies the end of the current solar cycle. After the 11-year cycle, the magnetic polarities of the active regions suddenly reverse and will remain as such for another 11-year cycle. So a period of 22-years make up one magnetic cycle of the Sun.

The Sun's northern hemisphere has already reversed its polarity as you can notice in a period of almost 0 activity for the month of July (see absence of AR regions in the Northern part for the month of July in these solar images). The southern hemisphere is following suit.

So what does a magnetic flip do?

Well, the Sun has a region of influence called the heliosphere which reaches out to the ends of the solar system. We monitor this sphere as what we call space weather. Charged particles (cosmic rays, plasma, etc.) in space travel with respect to the magnetic field lines of the Sun and of the planets. When the magnetic orientation of the Sun flips then so does the orientation of these charged particles. The sudden switch causes a storm in the space weather.


Solar Observation Program
Department of Earth and Space Sciences
Rizal Technological University

Solar Observation : 9 July 2013

Solar Observation - 5 July 2013

The Starburst Initiative

Today,  we are currently traveling to Camarines Sur for another Starburst activity. What began as a program for a star party evolved into a nationwide astronomy outreach program. The Rizal Technological University's Department of Earth and Space Sciences is currently engaged in conducting astronomy lectures and stargazing activities in different high-schools and colleges throughout the Philippines. We create linkages with the different schools in order to promote astronomy education and research, as well as  astronomy in general, to the Filipinos. The program also seeks to increase the experiences and technical skills of the BS Astronomy-Technology students involved by allowing them to deliver lectures and share their views of the night sky through RTU's telescopes. This program has allowed us an avenue for communicating astronomy to the public and inspiring others to take an interest for the wonders of the universe.

Astronomy for all :)

Starburst at Camarines Sur

Starburst at RTU, Mandaluyong

Starburst at Laguna

Starburst at Negros Occidental

Reach for the Stars - Astronomy for All

The universe is vast and wide, a thing we all can share

It's yours, it's mine, it's everyone's; we all just have to care

The universe is quite a place for us to all explore

It holds more stars than all the grains within a sandy shore

We scan the skies with telescopes, and also satellites

Learning 'bout the properties of these distant points of light

We turn our eyes to outer space and see the past unfold

And from these clues we might decide just what the future holds

To every child, to every man, look up, spend time to gaze

To the heavens lying up above filled with wonder to amaze

Look up above and share the skies, the universe is for free

And learn the science of the stars through your curiosity

-Reach for the Stars by Norman Marigza

5 June 2013 - Solar Observation

This morning I setup the 8" Sky-Watcher SkyLiner with our intern from the University of Michigan and some BS Astro-Tech students for a solar observing session. Two sunspot groups were very prominent AR 1762 and AR 1764. Other sunspot groups were noticed later through imaging.

From our observations, the computed sunspot number R is 82.83 with 3 sunspot groups in the Northern Hemisphere (a 3rd with no AR designation as of 11 AM), and 3 sunspot groups in the Southern Hemisphere.