(Report) Observing now at East Coast Park

[starfinder]

Skies seem quite clear tonite, so I am off now to do some observing at East Coast Park, beach side area between Carparks C4 and D1.

Will be there from 10pm for 1-2 hours. Moon rises around 1am.

[starfinder]

Here is a report on my ob session last night. I was at that place from about 10pm to midnight.

I believe the skies were very good last night in many parts of Singapore. There must have been unusually low amounts of moisture in the air. Even at my flat in the city, I could see many more stars and DSOs than would be the case 95% of the time.

Anyway, at the observing site at East Coast Park, I had one of the best observing sessions I've ever had in Singapore. When I arrived there, I was really surprised at how many tens of stars I could see with the naked eye looking out over the sea at the Southern skies around Crux-Centaurus-Lupus. Using a planetarium software now, I estimate that I could see stars to about magnitude 4.5 with the naked eye.

I spent most of the observing time using a 20x80mm binoculars, and then switching sometimes to a Celestron C-5 SCT to get some close up views. I also used a budget Nikon Action 7x35mm bino with a 9 degree field of view for broad sweeps.

Sweeping around the Eta Carina and NGC3532 region with the 20x80mm, the 3 degree or so field of view was filled with countless and endless numbers of stars. It reminded me of the view I usually see at a rural site. Was I really still in Singapore? Strange....

Omega Centauri was a naked eye object. It was bright and white in the 20x80, contrasting brightly against the background. I have not seen it like that in Singapore before, since it is usually faint and dull here. With the C-5 and a 14mm XL, I could see some of the texture and resolved stars in the globular. There was a strong constant sea-breeze last night, so the image in my C-5 (mounted on a Manfrotto 410 on a heavy Manfrotto tripod) was quite shaky most of the time.

With the 20x80, I also managed to easily view the globulars M4 in Scorpius and M22 in Sagittarius, but when I then viewed Omega Centauri as a comparison, I immediately said to myself that the Omega globular is "king". Its so much brighter and bigger.

Reflection/emission nebulars viewed easily with the 20x80 were: Eta Carina in where-else, and M8 Lagoon and M20 Trifid in Sagittarius.


Finally, to keep things in perspective, I could not see the Milky Way around the Crux-Centaurus region. Later on, I think I saw it above the Teapot, but am not sure. At a dark sky site, the Milky Way would be obvious, as would dark nebula. Also, looking behind at the Northern skies at the Big Dipper last night, I saw how heavily light polluted that region was.

From my experience, the East Coast Park carpark C4/D1 area is one of the best places in S'pore to view the skies in the South, SE and NE. Its better than say Marina South with the container terminals nearby. About 3 years ago, I did some quick viewing at the reclaimed land in the Tanah Merah area near the Naval Base with Matthew. I think some parts of the sky were even darker there, and I could make out the Milky Way around Puppis.

Viewing with the 20x80mm is really fun. I think in using a large bino as opposed to a telescope, you really appreciate the vast expanse of individual stars out there, plus the relationship of one DSO to another, e.g. where M8 and M20 are in relation to M6/M7 and what star formations lie in between. With a scope, you are usually island hopping from one specific object to another at high magnification.

[rcj]

yeah, would second the location thoughts as well. it has almost perfect framing to see the southern DSO jewels. Did not bring the 4-inch bino?

[starfinder]

Did not bring the 4-inch bino?

I wanted to bring both a large bino and a small scope, as a one-person carry about set-up. So, I brought one Manfrotto tripod with a 410 geared head, plus to mount on it interchangeably, a 20x80mm large bino and a Celstron C-5.

The 4-inch bino uses a Vixen fork mount and tripod. I think I will bring that alone on this Wed night.

[zackae]

Being able to see trifid, lagoon and eta carinae is a feat in the light polluted skies of Singapore. I had better make a trip down to East Coast one of these nights to observe Singapore's sky at its best.

[atlantis2267]

Yes, the sky was excellent these few nights at Pasir Ris as well; I was just admiring all these twinkles with naked eye and my recently purchased Vixen Apex Pro 8x42 binoculars. Will be looking for the moon out of my 15th floor window tonight ... and really itching for something more powerful...

... from a newbie....:-)

[rcj]

do join us at east coast park this wednesday, atlantis!

[Airconvent]

Looks like a great night for you...
I noticed the sky was quite clear from my kitchen window just as I was closing it for the night. Lots of background stars!
Did you go alone ? I think would have been great if you brought your LX90 along....that would have made better use of the clear skies!

[starfinder]

Did you go alone ? I think would have been great if you brought your LX90 along....that would have made better use of the clear skies!

Well, I was the only astronomer there, though there were many campers in tents in that area. I showed some curious passers-by the stars through the 20x80 bino.

Didn't bring the LX90 bec it is quite heavy and I wanted to use a large bino, hence opted for the C-5 as the scope to bring. I think the C-5 and the 20x80 are a good combo as a one-man portable set-up.

Hmmm.... maybe we have a shot at doing some comet hunting in Singapore?! I remember reading that Hale-Bopp was discovered thru large Dobsonians at around 11pm local time when it was in Sagittarius, and Hyakutake was found through a giant 25x150mm bino at 5am when in Libra. Both are areas in the S/SE.