Tag Archive for 'Sidewalk Astronomy'

Night 2: Kluang Mall

Published on May 12, 2009 in Public Outreach. View Comments Tags: , .

Table of contents for Kluang 100 Hours Star Party

  1. Kluang 100 Hours Star Party
  2. Night 1: GIANT, Sri Kluang
  3. Night 2: Kluang Mall

_look-through-the-xt8i-2
A kid was looking at the Great Orion Nebula

Kluang Mall, 4 April 2009 – First, I would like to express my appreciation towards the Kluang Mall management as they were kind to provide us a space at the main entrance for free. They also arrange security guards to standby and make sure the vehicles never run into us.

The weather was mediocre when we setup the telescope on 7pm. Bright astronomical objects like Moon, Sirius and Canopus were visible but others were not without optical aid. It was getting worse as the time passed through. Moon was blocked by the shopping mall, Sirius and Canopus were partially blocked by the cloud and Great Orion Nebula was getting dimmer and dimmer.

_look-through-meade-binocularPapa, please put away your hand

There was a huge crowd but the weather did not cooperate. Many of them were dissapointed. Even though we had 514 people looked through the scope, we were not convinced that we did a great job. If there is any such situation in the future, I think we should cut the event or run the backup plan since our motivation is to let them enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

Well, let’s look at the pictures.

_lots-of-kidsLots of kids around.

_look-through-the-xt8i-3“Do I look more pretty than the stars?” The girl asked.

_guys-behind-the-telescopesFrom right to left: Robin, Kang Dan, Shyh Tzer and bbo.

Last but not least, I am so grateful that these guys work with me on such meaningful events. Thank you all!

_group-photoMy dearest CHHS Astronomy Club members who attended the Kluang Mall Star Party

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Night 1: GIANT, Sri Kluang

Published on May 11, 2009 in Public Outreach. View Comments Tags: , .

Table of contents for Kluang 100 Hours Star Party

  1. Kluang 100 Hours Star Party
  2. Night 1: GIANT, Sri Kluang
  3. Night 2: Kluang Mall

sidewalk-astronomy-2009-giant-crowd

GIANT Hypermarket, 3 Apr 2009 – At 6.30pm, the weather was cool and cloudy due to the afternoon heavy downpour. With the astronomy enthusiasm burining in our hearts, we insisted on setting up the telescopes. Just after 20 minutes, the wanning-gibbous-moon light pierced through the cloud. A good sign, indeed.

sidewalk-astronomy-2009-lx90-celestar-8-orion-xt8
From left to right: Meade 8-inch-LX90, Celestron Celestar 8 and Orion Skyquest XT8i

The weather was getting better and better. The cloud was cleared and the transparency improved as well. Sirius was once again the brightest star on the sky. Thanks to the cooperating weather, we observed the Moon, Saturn, Great Orion Nebula (M42), The Seven Sisters aka Pleiades (M45) and plenty of star clusters such as the Jewel Box. Moon and Saturn were the most appreciated celestial bodies as they were bright and rich in features.

sidewalk-astronomy-2009-celestron-celestar-8
Shyh Tzer was showing a curiousity driven visitor where was my 8 inch telescope pointing at.

There were three 8 inch telescopes serving the public during the night. The 8 inch LX90 and the Orion XT8i were the most popular among the three. The reason that the Celestron Celestar 8 was not well accepted was due to its eyepiece orientation and the height of the telescope. As it was on a wedge, it was pretty hard for adult to look through it. However, it was unexpectedly suitable for little kids.

We had roughly 400 visitors for the night. This sounds great to us as the figure even surpasses the last year number. Though I have to admit that there may have duplications among the numbers.

In conclusion, this was a great warm up. :)

*Chinese version will be published after all the reports are done. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

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Kluang 100 Hours Star Party

Published on April 3, 2009 in Amateur Astronomers, IYA2009, Public Outreach and Sidewalk Astronomy. View Comments Tags: , , , .

Table of contents for Kluang 100 Hours Star Party

  1. Kluang 100 Hours Star Party
  2. Night 1: GIANT, Sri Kluang
  3. Night 2: Kluang Mall

In celebration of International Year of Astronomy 2009, we, the Kluang amateur astronomers have gathered to organise one of the greatest star party in the name of 100 Hours of Astronomy during the first weekend of April.

Below is the venue and the date. All the starparties start from 8.00pm and end on 10.30pm.

  • 3 April – Giant Superstore, Taman Sri Kluang
  • 4 April – Kluang Mall Entrance
  • 5 April – Kluang Mall Rooftop Carpark

What are we going to observe? The famous ring planet – Saturn, Great Orion Nebula where the new stars are born, the seven sisters – Pleaides, the brightest star – Sirius, our Earth very best friend – the Moon and more!

The telescopes serving your eyeballs during this weekend are 8″ Meade LX90, Orion SkyQuest XT8i, Celestron Celestar 8 and a few little refractors. Join us tonight and make it a memorable night!

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350 Joined Us For Partial Solar Eclipse

Published on February 4, 2009 in Eclipse, Public Outreach and Sidewalk Astronomy. View Comments Tags: , , .

Solar Eclipse Sequence Photo

Click to enlarge

27 Jan 2009 – We reached another 350 people this time.  350 people, actually more than that, joined us for the partial solar eclipse observing event at Kluang Mall, Kluang, Johor, Malaysia.

The partial solar eclipse started at 16:30:55 and ended on 18:58:21 on 26 Jan 2009. I arrived at the mall around 16:10 and when I had the LX90 ready for observing the sun, the elicpse had already begun. However, I was so thrilled as this was the first time I gazed at the “eaten sun”. At the mean time, Shyh Tzer was setting up his photography equipment. Homemade solar filter (floppy disk) attached on the front of the digital camera was used to snap the great moment.

The sunglasses, cool huh?
Front: Cool DIY sunglasses!
Back: The guy in the back is Rui-Yi. He counted the number of visitors

Shyh Tzer also brought along 8 sunglasses made with the floppy disk for the participants. Frankly speaking, looking via the sunglasses and my LX90 were equally fun. Though, a Lunt Solar telescope would double the joy we all had.

3 MusketeersLeft to right: *censored*, Kang Xuan and Shyh Tzer

This time, I was not alone. Well, there are members along with me everytime. :P Shyh Tzer, Kang Xuan (red), Rui-Yi and I handled the event this time. There could be more but most of the members are enjoying themselves with relatives and friends as 26 Jan 2009 was the first day of Chinese New Year.

Few hours before the event, I was actually struggling whether to hold this event or not. It was so rare to have all the relatives gathered at grandfather’s house. Fortunately, I took the right action and went straight to hold this event. What I had at the site was much more than what I could gain. It’s wonderful to share the joy with people rather than keep the joy myself. One’s happiness and 350 happiness, which one would you pick?

Thumbs UpGreat! Thumbs up!

407 Visitors Recorded for ISAN 2008, Kluang

Published on April 26, 2008 in Public Outreach and Sidewalk Astronomy. View Comments Tags: , .
ISAN 2008-Satisfaction
Saturn made people amaze!

“Bring the telescope to the public, share the night sky and the knowledge” is the intention of the International Sidewalk Astronomy Night (ISAN). The purpose is to give the people on this planet a chance to look at the celestial objects through telescope.

We only held ISAN 2008 today due to the mis-forecasted weather on 12 April 2008. (I was the culprit :P ).

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First NASA Saturn Observation Campaign in Kluang

Published on March 11, 2008 in Public Outreach and Stargazing Notes. View Comments Tags: , , .
Saturn Observation Campaign

Saturn in front of Sun
People were highly attracted by this photo projected on the panel.

As a member of NASA Saturn Observation Campaign, I held my first event on 6 March 2008 at our school basketball field at 7.30pm.

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Let’s Be The Editor of “Sidewalk Astronomy Handbook”

Published on October 4, 2007 in Sidewalk Astronomy. View Comments Tags: .

Official Observer of 1st ISANTony Silva, the president of Sao Paula Astronomy Club, Brazil, member of Sidewalk Astronomers (I’m one of them) invites you to join the Sidewalk Astronomy Handbook Project. It’s devised by CASP and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers. They had the idea for this as they believe that sidewalk astronomy should play a big role in International Year of Astronomy in 2009. There will be a series of events to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s first telescope observation.

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152 Joined The Sidewalk

Published on June 1, 2007 in Astronomical Events and Sidewalk Astronomy. View Comments Tags: , .

That’s awesome. There were 152 people observed the moon through my telescope during the International Sidewalk Astronomy Night held at Kluang Parade (Kluang, Johor, Malaysia) on 26 May 2007. 4 of my astronomy club members showed up to help answering the public’s question. The event started from 1945 to 2200.

Why was the moon the only object observed? The sidewalk was actually cancelled due to the bad weather but it turned out to be just okay around 1930. So, it’s the below average atmospheric condition. Second, it’s the Kluang Parade and other tall buildings around that blocked the spectacular Jupiter and Saturn. The public were quite unfortunate.

It’s really fun to hold public outreach as it’s really rewarding when you are able to satisfy the hunger of people to know more about astronomy. It’s even more fun that you are able to hook people to be an amateur astronomer.

Hey wait, where is the photo? I am so sorry that I was too busy explaning to the public and forgot to take out my camera from my pocket…

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