Visiting Singapore

william123 · Post by **william123** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:34 am

I am planning to visit Singapore in 2005, and I am wondering what astronomy-related museums, shops, etc. that Singapore has that might be worth a visit. For example, are there any good telescope shops? Planetariums? Observatories? Regularly-held star parties? Is the Science Center worth a visit?

I visited Singapore back in 1989, and, as I recall, the Science Center sold Vixen telescopes at that time. I love browsing through telescope shops!

I would be grateful for any information anyone might care to give.

Thank you.

Bill Green
wpgreen@earthlink.net
Austin, Texas, USA

chrisyeo · Post by **chrisyeo** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:51 am

If I may have a question myself, the science centre has a planetarium, but I've never seen it used or even advertised before, even in my school days. Is it broken?

Seriously, I have no idea how to get to view it. Anyone knows? Maybe I'll have to ask TASOS on this.

Bill,
TASOS (The Astronomical Society of Singapore) has access to the Science Centre's observatory (which houses the second largest telescope in Singapore am I correct to say?). They try to arrange public viewing sessions once a month. However, I think you'll find visiting the school based astronomy clubs more interesting.

Cheers,
Chris

Post by **VinSnr** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:06 am

chrisyeo wrote:If I may have a question myself, the science centre has a planetarium, but I've never seen it used or even advertised before, even in my school days. Is it broken?

Seriously, I have no idea how to get to view it. Anyone knows? Maybe I'll have to ask TASOS on this.

Bill,
TASOS (The Astronomical Society of Singapore) has access to the Science Centre's observatory (which houses the second largest telescope in Singapore am I correct to say?). They try to arrange public viewing sessions once a month. However, I think you'll find visiting the school based astronomy clubs more interesting.

Cheers,
Chris

the planetarium was closed for a long time already.

Post by **VinSnr** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:25 am

william123 wrote:I am planning to visit Singapore in 2005, and I am wondering what astronomy-related museums, shops, etc. that Singapore has that might be worth a visit. For example, are there any good telescope shops? Planetariums? Observatories? Regularly-held star parties? Is the Science Center worth a visit?

I visited Singapore back in 1989, and, as I recall, the Science Center sold Vixen telescopes at that time. I love browsing through telescope shops!

I would be grateful for any information anyone might care to give.

Thank you.

Bill Green
wpgreen@earthlink.net
Austin, Texas, USA

Bill, I think as far as astronomy scene is concern, there aren't much new buildings compared back to 1989. The science center is still there, might be an eye opener is some ways but I don't think it's really that fasinating.

At the science center you can still find that telescope shop. It is still there. Actually I am wondering how come it is still there with their kind of prices. Good for browsing around, but do yourself a favour...don't buy from them. You will find prices way lower back in US.

If you really want to enjoy astronomy here, join us for some stargazing action. We don't have big crowd star parties like in US, but some folks here do organise star-gazing among themselves and you are certainly welcomed to join. But don't expect us to have some big Dobs or things like that....scopes owned here are normally quite portable in size.

There are also a few local online vendors and IMO, their prices are pretty reasonable (check them out via the Vendor forum). You may also find Tak stuff here (brought in by Remus) less expensive then those in US.

And while you are here, enjoy the southern skies!

wucheeyiun · Post by **wucheeyiun** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:40 pm

Does anyone know where the largest telescope is housed in Singapore? I thought it was the one at science centre. (when I ask Albert)

Post by **weixing** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:30 am

Hi,

Does anyone know where the largest telescope is housed in Singapore? I thought it was the one at science centre. (when I ask Albert)

I think it is collecting dust in someone house... Ha Ha Ha...

Hope that I can see it in AstroFest 2004....

By the way, the observatory is still operational, but they only open on some friday night... You can check with science center. Also, Astro Scientific Centre is still there, but now at Omni-Theatre... the telescope price will be higher than US (since most of them are imported from US), but the entry level telescope is now more reasonable compare to a few years back.

Anyway, I think Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are also nice to visit.

Hope you will enjoy the Sun, Rain, Clouds (Singapore Nebula... Ha Ha Ha

) and Light Pollution

.

Have a nice day.

Post by **Airconvent** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:24 am

wucheeyiun wrote:Does anyone know where the largest telescope is housed in Singapore? I thought it was the one at science centre. (when I ask Albert)

the one at the science centre is 16". I thought the biggest one would be the 16.1" Dob owned by Wira, Chuanf Yee and Chee Chien....hasn't seen much light yet though due to poor weather.

william123 · Post by **william123** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 7:59 am

If I understand what I have read so far, the Astro Scientific Centre, located at the Omni-Theatre, is a good telescope shop. Are there any others in Singapore that are worth a visit?

Where I come from, telescope shops are quite rare. In the USA, almost all telescope sales are mail order.

Bill Green

harlequin2902 · Post by **harlequin2902** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:28 am

william123 wrote:If I understand what I have read so far, the Astro Scientific Centre, located at the Omni-Theatre, is a good telescope shop. Are there any others in Singapore that are worth a visit?

Where I come from, telescope shops are quite rare. In the USA, almost all telescope sales are mail order.

Bill Green

Hi Bill,

Unfortunately there is only one telescope shop-showroom in Singapore at the moment.

I guess the vastness of the land is the main cause of the seemingly sparse distribution of telescope shops in some areas in the USA.

Does this place happen to be close to where you live or work ? They sell a nice range of astronomical equipment.

AUSTIN ASTRONOMY & SCIENCE
10401 Anderson Mill Road #101
Austin, TX 78750
(512) 250-1252
http://www.austinastronomy.com/

Regards,

Post by **VinSnr** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 12:21 pm

william123 wrote:If I understand what I have read so far, the Astro Scientific Centre, located at the Omni-Theatre, is a good telescope shop. Are there any others in Singapore that are worth a visit?

Where I come from, telescope shops are quite rare. In the USA, almost all telescope sales are mail order.

Bill Green

Yes, that's a good telescope shop...until you see their "not-so-good" prices.

SingAstro

Visiting Singapore

Visiting Singapore

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