On 5 May 2007, my friend Giek Zhen from Segamat, Johor, Malaysia visited me with his department store telescope (the right in the photo). At first, I didn’t think that the department scope even worthed for such a little bucks. However, after I had looked through the scope, I agree that department scope is actually a good choice for the very very beginners. (Of course, not every department scope’s quality is the same)
We woke up at 0500 6 May 2007 and started our stargazing session. The Moon and Jupiter were so bright on the sky. After I showed Giek Zhen the bright objects on the night sky, I let him peer through my 8″ scope. Below are the objects that we observed.
Jupiter was so bright and we could see 4 Galilean moons. Actually I saw one more but I just couldn’t confirm as the glow of Jupiter and Moon was too strong, made it hard to be seen. The department scope can actually let the user see Jupiter. Although the Jupiter was washed out by the strong glow and weak resolution of 60mm telescope, the Galilean moons were visible.
Moon was 89% full but we still did the observing. I showed him the high power viewing of the Moon which got a little distorted in his scope.
Butterfly Cluster did really look like a butterfly. The stars resembled a butterfly with the dark sky as background. Amazing!
Wild Duck Cluster as seen as it was flying was even more spectacular than the Butterfly Cluster! There are 3 bright stars in this region. 2 are the eyes of the wild duck.
M07, Helix Nebula and Cynus X1 were observed too. M07 was an open star cluster. We can’t see anything when the scope pointed to Helix Nebula. I guessed it was due to the strong glow of Moon. Cynus X1 was a blackhole that I expected because of its weird nomenclature (at least to me). We need an instrument with the ability to receive x-ray to view it.
I saw one Aquarid earthgrazer burning across the sky from north to south for just 2 seconds! Giek Zhen saw one Aquarid too.
We should go to the beach near the East Coast one day. Unobstructed and unpolluted sky!
Good idea, let’s plan about this during the school holidays~
It’s a good experience that I can learn and use the instrument and knowledge from Robin. I hope if I got any chance, I would meet you and together we gaze the star again!
Hehe, waiting for that day!
is it nice?
i am now doing summary on astronomy..sucks la
i have no idea what should i do…
i am totally not into this subject ever since..
Do you mind to give me an idea what should the project about?
555…
almost die d
got so mamy assignment to rush…
it is mainly on how to bring forward msia to science and technology country…
i am in charge in astronomy
nid to hand in to leader b4 wed…
if possible, i hv to finish it tonight…
got power point oso..
oh no!!!
if u dont mind,add me at msn..
Astronomy is the mark of advanced development of a country. Why? The astronomical research always needs the world best instruments to have a deeper finding. So, if we (Malaysians) have the instruments and the right persons to do the job just as what NASA does, we are no longer considered a country of which residents live on top of trees.
First, it’s about human beings’ curiousity. Secondly, it’s about honor. This is one of the reason why does Malaysia send 2 astronauts to the space. Thirdly, it’s to save the mankind (Do you remember Armageddon?).
Okay, how to develop astronomy in Malaysia? First, our government has to enact laws to protect the night skies for light pollution so that high quality observations can be done here. Astronomers will only go to the countries that have high qualities night skies. Next, they have to offer more job opportunities for the astronomers and hire lectures who are good at astrophysics to give birth to high quality astrophysicists. Besides, government has to lower down the tax (currently at 10%) applied on telescopes to promote amateur astronomy. Almost every well developed country has a good amateur astronmers’ community.
I actually don’t know what I am doing now as I am quite sleepy after a whole day long schooling.
thank you very much
it is so useful!!!
really thx!!!
i owe u a treat
if got chane, i belanja u makan at sgt
thx ye…
gonna rush for assignment d
really thx ye…
Haha.. I was worrying that my reply was rubbish. Luckily, it’s not.
By the way, you come from Segamat as well?