I made my first trip to the Andromeda Observatory on Friday night.
I took the train there after work, getting off at Admiralty MRT station. I had much difficulty finding the place because the Galaxy Astronomy Club's webpage regarding their weekly sessions did not state any address other than to say that the observatory is at level 6 of the Galaxy CC (Community Club), and the embedded map shows the former location of the CC, i.e. at Blk 649 Woodlands Ring Road, with the former name of Admiralty CC. Further, the display on my mobile phone did not show any other marking for the correct place (which I've just discovered, does shows up on my PC screen). So off I went to Blk 649 and it took me over 20 mins from there to find the correct place.
So, for everyone's benefit, the Andromeda Observatory as at the Level 6 rooftop of Galaxy CC (Community Club), in the glittering new building at 31 Woodlands Avenue 6, which is at the junction of Woodlands Avenue 6 and Woodlands Drive 63. From Admiralty MRT station, walk south down Woodlands Avenue 6 for about 200 metres until just before Woodlands Drive 63.
Here is a map from Onemap.sg to which I've marked the location:
(Note: Onemap.sg is run by the Singapore Land Authority and it's stated on the website that they permit the use of their maps in flyers, etc. Their FAQ No. 12 states:
"12. Can we use the maps in our emails, e-flyers to indicate the location of our events?
Yes, please make sure that the copyright statement is stated in your emails/collaterals.")
BTW, the maps on Onemap.sg (at
http://www.onemap.sg/index.html ) are much more detailed and up-to-date than on Google Maps. For example, Google Maps still shows the CC at its former location, and I've seen many other cases of out-of-date information on Google Maps.
As for the observatory itself...
I must say that it is very impressive, considering it is funded by a public community club (fka "community centre"). The Takahashi Mewlon 300mm (12 inch) Dall-Kirkham telescope is mounted on a Showa German equatorial mount and driven by The Sky6 planetarium software. The scope is mounted in a strikingly professional-looking dome (air-conditioned too!), complete with a slit opening that moves about in coordination with the scope. Kudos to the folks at Galaxy Astronomy Club to have got the observatory built! It's a great accomplishment.
When I arrived (after my detour), there was a line of about 15-20 people in the queue, with around another 20 mingling about in the rooftop courtyard. They were mostly primary/secondary/poly students, with some families and their small kids. The small kids did manage to view through the eyepiece. The 4-step ladder was adequate for most, and the smaller ones had to be hand-carried up.
When I got to the eyepiece, I discovered that the view of Saturn was quite literally marred. The eye lens of the Nagler eyepiece had oily stains on it, most likely from eyelashes pressed near the eyepiece due to the short eye-relief. I requested that the eyepiece be cleaned to remove the oil stains, but was told that the cleaning is only done in the daytime. Further, before 8.30pm, the image was quite fuzzy due to air-currents. I've read that with the Mewlon 300, the rear plate and the side plates next to the mirror can be removed to facilitate cooling. However, the scope's plates were not removed.
So, my
suggestions for the club are:
(a) To clean the eyepieces during viewing sessions whenever they get stained, with simple cleaning fluid, as often as need be. I think it is far better that budget to mid-priced eyepieces are used that are cleaned often during sessions and give clear views, than premium eyepieces that are not cleaned during sessions resulting (sometimes) in fuzzy images.
(b) To study how to minimize thermal in-equilibrium. If it is in the scope itself, to consider removing the rear and side plates before and during viewing sessions until the scope has cooled down. If it is due to the difference in air temperature between the air-conditoned dome and the outside, then perhaps some way to encourage cross-ventilation during sessions (I'm no expert on this, though).
Later on, I also viewed Omega Centauri, this time through a clean Radian. The view was excellent, with pin-point individual stars visible. That was a good taste of the Mewlon's potential!
All-in-all, it was definitely worth the trip. Many thanks to the club volunteers for the evening.
It's a pity that the observatory must close before 10pm, which is when the community club (centre) closes for the night. It is a bit of a waste for such a premium scope to be available for use for only 2 to 2.5 hrs a night, especially considering how cloudy it often is in Singapore. However, I was told that Galaxy astro club is trying to organise some special overnight sessions.
The camera angle makes the Tak so small and portable!
