Lunar Eclipse Event @ Toa Payoh Central CC

[Gary]

Hi Friends,

After weeks of planning and negotiation, I am glad to announce that we are have just received the confirmation from Toa Payoh Central CC to conduct a Total Lunar Eclipse event at their premise.

Date: 10 Dec 2011, Saturday
Time: 8.00pm to 11:00pm
Venue: Toa Payoh Central Community Club, Level 3.
Google Map --> http://goo.gl/AyV2U
Google Map Street View --> http://goo.gl/3r7Ns
This CC is located just opposite the usual open space area outside the Toa Payoh Library.



I will be posting more details and photos in the days to come. But here are the most important ones:

(1) The observation site is fully sheltered but with a very good view of the East. From about 10 degrees to almost 80 degrees. This is the usual patch of the sky we point towards during our usual sidewalk sessions at the library area.

(2) The lights in the observation site will be switch off to enhance the observation experience. Almost all of the glaring streetlights will be blocked by the design of the observation site.

(3) With the dimmed setting, we will make use of a projector/LCD tv for multimedia presentations and live streaming on the wall without worrying about the condition of the sky at any moment. Personally, I can't wait to see the Mallincam video camera in action.

The confirmed telescope volunteers as of now is 4 - James, Alfred, KoKo and myself. We may do an impromptu solar observation session in the afternoon if the weather is good.

There will be a NTUC Back To School event on the actual day at the open space infront of the library. The tentage takes up slightly less area than the typical pasam malam setup. There are still nice spots depoly a few telescopes there if the weather is good and we have sufficient telescope volunteers to do so. Their event ends at 9.00 pm.

This event is free and open to all with or without telescope. If you are bringing a telescope along, please kindly contact me no matter how late and last minute is your decision to do so. I will try to arrange a good spot for you to deploy.

Thanks to the CC for hosting and supporting this event and we all hope to see you all there enjoying the views and public talks in a dark, cozy and relaxed environment!

*************************

Moon and Jupiter at level 3 roof terrace of Toa Payoh Central CC:


This is a walkthrough video of the event venue and observation site at night. Watch in fullscreen HD for best experience:

[fizzy123]

Wow good news for the heartlanders, can go TYP CC to see eclipse.

[Gary]

@fizzy123: Thanks. Since event is free for all, non heartlanders are free to join in the fun also. Hopefully the pasam malam stores will be ready by then for us to enjoy some nice cheap makan.

Update: Added observation site walkthrough video in the main post.

[kensou]

i nd to do Kage Bunshin to run both one fullerton there and toa payoh there.. haha

[Junming-jm]

btw geminid meteor shower peak is on 13 to 14 right ? so are we also able to watch geminid on that day too ?

[Gary]

btw geminid meteor shower peak is on 13 to 14 right ? so are we also able to watch geminid on that day too ?

With the current weather trend, a bright Moon after the lunar eclipse, a non shower peak day and urban light pollution, highly unlikely to see any in Singapore on that day.

[Gary]

Added the CC poster in the main post. Thanks to the CC for printing and displaying the poster on their LCD TV at the main entrance area and at noticeboards and lifts inside the CC as well as noticeboards at Toa Payoh Central HDB buildings.

[Gary]

Added a Moon and Jupiter video at the main post.

[Gary]

Here's an update on the tentage at open space outside library:

It is not a pasam malam event as previously suspected. It is a NTUC family event known as Back To School Fair 2011. Their event is from 9 - 11 Dec from 12 noon to 9 pm during those three days.

Because of this event:

(1) The area taken up by their event is slightly smaller than the typical pasam malam. This means we have more space to deploy and lesser obstruction to the viewable patch of skies.

(2) Due to the tentage design and setup, most of the street lamps at the area *may* be switched off after 9 pm (base on last night's recce). This may mean a darker observation site than normal.

(3) May attract a bigger-than-normal afternoon crowd to our potential sidewalk Solar Observation session if the weather is clear.

We should be having 2 teams of volunteers on the actual day. One will be stationed at the CC, the other will be at the library area.

[starfinder]

Best wishes to all at Toa Payoh!!

Looks like we in Singapore are going to be in for a treat tonight. Been quite clear the past few days and it seems to be holding up today.

Great work bringing astronomy to the public!


BTW, here are the eclipse timings from Sky & Telescope:

Partial eclipse begins: 8.45pm S'pore time, i.e. Moon starts to enter into Earth's shadow (umbra). The 'bite' begins, poor Moon!

Start of totality (entire Moon within Earth's shadow): 10.05pm

Middle of totality: 10.32pm

End of totality, Moon starts to exit from Earth's shadow: 10.57pm

End of eclipse, Moon fully moves out of Earth's shadow (umbra): 12.18am