semakau

ykchia · Post by **ykchia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:37 am

Hi folks:

Apart from the day activities of looking around i hv a brief period of looking at the southern sky.

http://visionsanasini.blogspot.com

What is ur opnion of using Semakau for serious star gazing?

fizzy123 · Post by **fizzy123** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:39 pm

Hi YK,

From my conversation with a member of MPastro during the recent astronomy convention, he said that place is considered dark for SG. But considering that most singastronians have access to Punggai, Mersing and other spots in Johore, this makes visiting the island a not so attractive option as visitation is restricted to solely registered organisation. Plus it is difficult to carry heavy equipments onto the ferry. The designated star-gazing spots are also infested with sand flies, thus observing there might be uncomfortable.But the southern skies are relatively good by SG standard with light pollutions covering only 10 degrees above the horizon.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:19 pm

Hi Mr Chia,

You may find these articles useful:

"'Trash island' by day... STAR-STUDDED BY NIGHT. Semakau Island popular haunt for Singapore astronomers."
http://www.relax.com.sg/relax/news/5116 ... 2527_.html

TASOS organises stargazing trips to semakau. You can check out the photos they have taken:
http://www.tasos.org.sg/semakau_island_ ... azing.html

I have not been to semakau. Personally, unless there is huge enough visual advantage at semakau, I would still prefer to wait for clear skies and then rush to Changi Beach, East Coast area or the nearest dark spot to my location (in the context of observing in Singapore). Else, I feel it is not worth the hassle to go there first and hope for the skies to be clear.

By huge enough advantage, I mean the possibility of see things that cannot be seen from beaches and dark spots in our mainland island, e.g. the milky way (no matter how faint visually as long as it still can be seen).

But I can fully understand for non stargazing-only people, it is still very nice to explore the island for its other attractions, e.g. nature watching, photography, watching sunrise/sunsets, ...etc. And if the skies happen to be clear also, they can treat that as a happy bonus.

Btw, I think topics like this is should not be in not Coffee Corner. It IS astronomy related. Perhaps should be moved to General Astronomy or Astronomy FAQs/Articles forum.

ykchia · Post by **ykchia** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:37 pm

Hi fizzy and Gary :

Thanks for the useful information. It was one of the darkest sky I can recall within Singapore Territory suitable for general star gazing or meteor showers watching or timelapse photography if the clouds stay away. Otherwise i would put it down as been there done that.

p/s : sorry to park at the wrong forum.

fizzy123 · Post by **fizzy123** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:59 pm

Hi YK,

Despite the poor reviews, I am still looking forward to observing at the island. So how did you managed to observe there? Through MCYS or PA?

shirox · Post by **shirox** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:29 pm

actually from what i see, the time spent from taking a boat to semakau and driving up to malaysia, I probably be spending only at max an hour more. Darker skies, more stuffs to do, more things to eat and a cosy chalet to stay over.
I have not been there, and i don't think i will.

andeelym · Post by **andeelym** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 2:49 am

Sand flies are the worst thing about the place... actually, any place.

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 1:55 pm

ykchia wrote: p/s : sorry to park at the wrong forum.

Hi Mr Chia. Nothing to be sorry about. I was just thinking out loud. It was more of a suggestion to the mods/admins to move this thread there if they feel there is a need to. Else, no worries.

Because in this case, you asked about fellow members opinion about serious stargazing (astronomy related) in semaku (a stargazing spot). To me, there is nothing coffee-corner about such content.

cloud_cover · Post by **cloud_cover** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 4:59 pm

andeelym wrote:Sand flies are the worst thing about the place... actually, any place.

I second. Still recovering from sandfly bites 1 month ago!