Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight outside Courts - 18 Jun

Alright, this is for sharing of your observation experience. Or, if you are arranging gatherings, star-gazing expeditions or just want some company to go observing together, you can shout it out here.
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Gary
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Mon 9 Dec 2013

Post by Gary »

Weather permitting, we will be conducting a sidewalk astronomy session at Toa Payoh Central tonight.

Date: Monday, 9 Dec 2013
Time: From 7:30 PM onwards till late
Venue: Open ground in front of Toa Payoh Public Library [Google Map] [Street View]

Primary focus: Moon and Jupiter!

We will be deploying our telescopes for free public viewing.

So come join in the fun with or without telescope! Feel free to chat with us about Astronomy!
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
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Gary
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Mon 9 Dec 2013

Post by Gary »

Cloudy. Stargazing session on hold. See twitter for latest updates:

http://www.twitter.com/astrosg
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
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Gary
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Mon 9 Dec 2013

Post by Gary »

Session is on. From 8:30pm. Will take our chances.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
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Gary
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Mon 9 Dec 2013

Post by Gary »

Thanks to all who came last night! A clear night during NE monsoon! Big patches of clear enough skies last night from about 9pm+ till midnight. What a joy to catch up with terrestrial and celestial friends! :) Good views of Jupiter, Moon M45, M42, Hyades Cluster, Collinder 70 (Orion's belt) through 80mm f/5 widefield achro refractor. China's recent lunar probe is creating more awareness of astronomy as expected. Glad to meet a lurker in this forum in person and show him some stuff through the scope. :)

Moon shot last night with phone thru telescope. Dedicated to Sir Patrick Moore who left us a year ago.

Image
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
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Gary
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by Gary »

Weather permitting, in memory of John Lowry Dobson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dobso ... stronomer)), we will be conducting a sidewalk astronomy session at Toa Payoh Central tonight.

Date: Thursday, 16 Jan 2014
Time: From 8:00 PM onwards till late
Venue: Open ground in front of Toa Payoh Public Library [Google Map] [Street View]

Primary focus: Moon and Jupiter! It is a good opportunity to see Jupiter's Great Red Spot when Jupiter is high up in the sky at around midnight.

We will be deploying our telescopes for free public viewing. I will be bringing a 10-inch Dobsonian Telescope.

So come join in the fun with or without telescope! Feel free to chat with us about Astronomy!
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
User avatar
Gary
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:06 am
Location: Toa Payoh
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by Gary »

Cloudy weather. Sidewalk astronomy session tonight on hold. Next update at 9pm.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
User avatar
Gary
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:06 am
Location: Toa Payoh
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by Gary »

Still cloudy. Sidewalk astronomy session tonight on hold. Next and final update at 10:30pm.
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
User avatar
Gary
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:06 am
Location: Toa Payoh
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by Gary »

Sky is clearing up. Moon and Jupiter shining brightly again!

Tonight sidewalk session is on! From 11pm. Yes, I know it's late and I can't control the weather to clear up earlier. But come take a look if you happen to be around Toa Payoh. Even if only one by-stander come take a look, JD would be happy. :)
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
User avatar
Gary
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Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 7:06 am
Location: Toa Payoh
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by Gary »

Thanks to all who came for the sidewalk last Thursday in memory of John Dobson. Sky was clear late night from about 10:30pm. We had good views of Jupiter and the very distinct GRS through the 10-inch dobsonian. The perimeter of the "ball" of the storm was well defined. It was more orangy now as then pinkish when I last observed it last year.

A relatively newcomer also saw the greenish hue of the Great Nebula in Orion for the first time, without any prompting in advance. The E and F stars in the trapezium of M42 were clearly seen with direct vision despite the harsh light pollution at the Toa Payoh Central. Pollux was a clean split under relatively low magnification. Sirius shining like a very bright diamond with the aesthetically pleasing spikes (caused by the dob spider vane). M35 and M41 spotted but sky background not dark enough to produce a nice view due to the full moon.

Nonetheless, full moon itself was interesting to observe with ND filter or without at high magnifications, especially at the limbs. The passersby had a good looks and enjoyed the sharing session, especially for a family who was in already in a joyous mood on the eve of Thaipusam. The long break of not being able to conduct a satisfying sidewalk with the dob seems to be distant memory on that beautiful night!

Packed up around 3am+. The following photos were taken with my phone camera.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
http://www.astro.sg
email: gary[at]astro.sg
twitter: @astrosg


"The importance of a telescope is not how big it is, how well made it is.
It is how many people, less fortunate than you, got to look through it."
-- John Dobson.
knc
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Re: Toa Payoh Sidewalk Astronomy tonight - Thu 16 Jan 2014

Post by knc »

Thanks Gary, for the sidewalk sharing session. Looking through your 10" dob was an eye opening experience, and your enthusiasm is an ongoing inspiration.

-kn
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