Singapore Observatory
Singapore Observatory
I believe everyone is aware that there is an observatory in the Singapore Science Center, housing a 16 inch Cassegrain and a 6 inch Apochromatic telescope. I have recently read through some past publications by SSC and according to it, the observatory had a solid state spectra-photometer, a 20cm schimidt camera and a hydrogen alpha filter for solar studies. I was wondering if there are any on going astronomical research by any groups (e.g. poly/uni) using the equipments at the observatory? Other than friday, whereby the observatory is open to the public, is the observtory used on other days not booked by TASOS? What possible type of research can be carried out using such equipments/setup in a typical urban location such as the SSC?
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superiorstream
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Hi,fizzy123
I think what should be happening is not happening in spore.The Science center has a very good Daystar solar filter-if I am not mistaken 0.5A bandwidth type but is not put to good use.By right they SHOULD made daily obs of the sun and made record of it for fulture research uses but instead is laying there wasted.
You see as society get more complicated;there are various admin problems;and people may in the end not dare to use it because its too complicated in admin to have access to it--you have to sign perhaps all kinds of forms etc.Peraps similar fate happen to their spectrometer etc.Any ans?
I think what should be happening is not happening in spore.The Science center has a very good Daystar solar filter-if I am not mistaken 0.5A bandwidth type but is not put to good use.By right they SHOULD made daily obs of the sun and made record of it for fulture research uses but instead is laying there wasted.
You see as society get more complicated;there are various admin problems;and people may in the end not dare to use it because its too complicated in admin to have access to it--you have to sign perhaps all kinds of forms etc.Peraps similar fate happen to their spectrometer etc.Any ans?
Hi superiorstream, I am not versed in the science and technicals with regards to solar obs, but since you (guru) rate the solar filter as good, then it must be really something.
But I don't understand the part where by you said that the administration might get complicated. With our nation's current level of social and economical development, I doubt it is hard for SSC to employ full time staff (1 or 2) with a small group of technicians to conduct meaningful investigation of solar activities. Considering that a few hundred physics and app. physics students graduating from the 2 local universities each year, SSC can easily employ a few of them for this purpose. And with more publications and a dedicated observatory webpage, the public's interest and confidence in astronomy can be boosted and that the observatory would not be branded as a huge money consuming white elephant. I have recently read from a chinese news webpage that in China, there are 3000 small academic, institutional level observatories, however more than 50% of these observatories are under utilized, some are even in the state of dis-repair. Most of the institutions are merely using those observatories as publicity stunt tools to attract more students. Could our SSC and the other institutional observatories also face the same fate as them in the years to come?
Solar obs seems to be the only activity that can be researched here as the our night skies are highly light polluted and cloudy, but are there any other astro research activities that can be carried out meaningfully here?
But I don't understand the part where by you said that the administration might get complicated. With our nation's current level of social and economical development, I doubt it is hard for SSC to employ full time staff (1 or 2) with a small group of technicians to conduct meaningful investigation of solar activities. Considering that a few hundred physics and app. physics students graduating from the 2 local universities each year, SSC can easily employ a few of them for this purpose. And with more publications and a dedicated observatory webpage, the public's interest and confidence in astronomy can be boosted and that the observatory would not be branded as a huge money consuming white elephant. I have recently read from a chinese news webpage that in China, there are 3000 small academic, institutional level observatories, however more than 50% of these observatories are under utilized, some are even in the state of dis-repair. Most of the institutions are merely using those observatories as publicity stunt tools to attract more students. Could our SSC and the other institutional observatories also face the same fate as them in the years to come?
Solar obs seems to be the only activity that can be researched here as the our night skies are highly light polluted and cloudy, but are there any other astro research activities that can be carried out meaningfully here?
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superiorstream
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Hi,fizzy123
Well,as in all Asian societies,money is deem as very important and as such you can see the reality of the facts is that Engineers/accountant/doctors/lawyers are considered professionals-due to their high pay-- whereas physicist/astronomers are considered 2nd class.China(only recently) on the other hand had their own space programs and so must develope their own professional in astronomy as a sidebranch of their space program.Singapore has none of that;in fact in the 60's;70's and early 80's if you talk to someone about astronomy,and about going overseas to study astronomy ,most parent will object and think that you are going to be a monk!As you can observe our higher institute of learning also concentrate on courses that can give FINANCIAL returns rather than theorical discoveries.(no astronomy courses in the U in spore in my days)
Solar observing,well is very hot and turn your looks into a contract worker and so its not favoured by most who want a cool enjoyable enviroment.;and yield NO FINANCIAL RETURNS.WELL THATS REALITY and those who can and had maintain interest(on ther own) really belong to a special breed!Thanks.
Well,as in all Asian societies,money is deem as very important and as such you can see the reality of the facts is that Engineers/accountant/doctors/lawyers are considered professionals-due to their high pay-- whereas physicist/astronomers are considered 2nd class.China(only recently) on the other hand had their own space programs and so must develope their own professional in astronomy as a sidebranch of their space program.Singapore has none of that;in fact in the 60's;70's and early 80's if you talk to someone about astronomy,and about going overseas to study astronomy ,most parent will object and think that you are going to be a monk!As you can observe our higher institute of learning also concentrate on courses that can give FINANCIAL returns rather than theorical discoveries.(no astronomy courses in the U in spore in my days)
Solar observing,well is very hot and turn your looks into a contract worker and so its not favoured by most who want a cool enjoyable enviroment.;and yield NO FINANCIAL RETURNS.WELL THATS REALITY and those who can and had maintain interest(on ther own) really belong to a special breed!Thanks.
Well talking abt solar obs, I think the part about turning into BBQ need not be necessary. I have read from wikipedia that the solar observatory in Sweden is basically this tall tower with the scope mounted on the top. Due to the nature of solar obs, poor seeing issue is solved by allowing the light to travel through this tall vacuum chamber in the tower, so as to reduce the air turbulence due to the heated air and the instruments for measuring datas are based at the bottom.superiorstream wrote:Solar observing,well is very hot and turn your looks into a contract worker and so its not favoured by most who want a cool enjoyable enviroment.;and yield NO FINANCIAL RETURNS.WELL THATS REALITY and those who can and had maintain interest(on ther own) really belong to a special breed!Thanks.
I personally think that professional solar obs in Singapore is suitable and feasible as the issue of light pollution and photo-chemical smog are not in play and that scopes used for solar obs need not be very large, unlike those used stellar obs. Besides, being an equatorial nation means that we have fairly consistent length of solar observing hours as compared to the temperate nations, which is definitely a bonus.
No doubt professional astronomy will never take off in Singapore due to our traditional Asian mindset and our local observing environment; but in the recent years, we are seeing lots of astronomy clubs sprouting out at the communal level (e.g. marine parade and admiralty garden astro club). There are also renewed interest and high level of public interest in the friday obs session at SSC. So with this, I am wondering if SSC which is an organisation standing at the fore front of propagating science education, is doing anything in lobbying the govt to invest more into astronomical research. If the govt is willing to invest millions into building that 2 "durians", when the level of interest in fine arts are technically in non existence, so why not astronomy? Furthermore, SG have a couple of satellites in space and that the whole nation is highly wired via broadband, the more we need to investigate issue like solar winds and solar flares.
But is it possible that some bodies in singapore such as singastro forms a volunteer group to make use of and collect data. There can be just an admin staff for security clearance to the observatory and the access be controlled by a person granting access to selected people who have to go through some interviews to be in the list.
Just my 2 cents.
Just my 2 cents.
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superiorstream
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Hi,
Well,yes its possible to observe the sun without being exposed if we have a structure like the keckpeak observatory in the U.S.;but I dont think we will have one because our system is such that everything they invested in must yield a return and by the way the 'durain' is also to attract tourist.Another example is the IR where billions are thrown in to enhance gambling!--wish they throw in that kind of money for Astronomy!
As you can see the high grade solar filter is laying wasted in the SSC.Note that such items degrade itself even if unused and after a number of years,one of the filter surface will degrade and had to be sent back to daystar for serviceing.I really wonder how many pics that filter had yield after all these years.
Your suggestion about having perhaps astro-club from say schools etc have access to such equipment is good; but I doubt its feasible.Reasons is that to even operate such systems,you need special knowledge--for example if I am not mistaken the 0.5A Daystar filter had to be preheated for a certain time before it can be used.Thus a paid stuff had to ensure its proper use.I had even seen schools telescope and astrogears equipment laying wasted after their teacher with astro knowledge left their school.
My 2 cents.Thanks.
Well,yes its possible to observe the sun without being exposed if we have a structure like the keckpeak observatory in the U.S.;but I dont think we will have one because our system is such that everything they invested in must yield a return and by the way the 'durain' is also to attract tourist.Another example is the IR where billions are thrown in to enhance gambling!--wish they throw in that kind of money for Astronomy!
As you can see the high grade solar filter is laying wasted in the SSC.Note that such items degrade itself even if unused and after a number of years,one of the filter surface will degrade and had to be sent back to daystar for serviceing.I really wonder how many pics that filter had yield after all these years.
Your suggestion about having perhaps astro-club from say schools etc have access to such equipment is good; but I doubt its feasible.Reasons is that to even operate such systems,you need special knowledge--for example if I am not mistaken the 0.5A Daystar filter had to be preheated for a certain time before it can be used.Thus a paid stuff had to ensure its proper use.I had even seen schools telescope and astrogears equipment laying wasted after their teacher with astro knowledge left their school.
My 2 cents.Thanks.
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qinjuehang2
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:31 am
- Location: NUS High
Schools don't necessarily need teachers good with astronomy. It is not quite as far fatched as superiorstream said, I myself could stand as an example, routinely using my school's 14" Cassegrain in our observatory. It is true that the vast majority of students do not have necessary knowledge to use a observatory; even in my astronomy club I would not trust most to do anything more than just "observe" in the observatory, but there are plenty with the expertise to do so. The important thing is more to have a culture whereby interest is cultivated in junior students by the seniors, than to have a teacher who has astronomy knowledge. By the way, the only teacher with enough astro knowledge to be on-par with the experienced students left my school last year.
Hi qjh2,
It is good to hear that NUS high has taken concrete steps in boosting students' interest and awareness in astrophysics and astronomy. I have heard from others that NUS high is introducing more advance topics like quantum mechanics,gravity at junior levels and practical observations. But from your personal point of view, how effective had these programs been? What sort of research or projects have been undertaken by the students and profs with regards to the 14 inch cassegrain? In fact, for such a small aperture scope and light polluted skies of SG, what sort of projs can be undertaken in local sky conditions?
It is good to hear that NUS high has taken concrete steps in boosting students' interest and awareness in astrophysics and astronomy. I have heard from others that NUS high is introducing more advance topics like quantum mechanics,gravity at junior levels and practical observations. But from your personal point of view, how effective had these programs been? What sort of research or projects have been undertaken by the students and profs with regards to the 14 inch cassegrain? In fact, for such a small aperture scope and light polluted skies of SG, what sort of projs can be undertaken in local sky conditions?
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superiorstream
- Posts: 1504
- Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Hi,fizzy123
As for the sort of projects or useful instruments available,most get detered and always say that our inst. is insufficient.I perfer to say no.Look at other observatory--many made daily record of the sun say by way of daily photographing the sun--you may ask what for--well, thats how people discovered the 11-12 year solar cycle not to mention the mysterious maunder cycle.We have the instruments at the science centre or even some school astro club--well a white light solar filter or one made from a say 77mm filter ring---but we see no one doing it.In fact the Malaysian at Langkawi observatory frequently submit photo to spaceweather.com while our SSc dont bother to keep a record(photographic)of sunspot;Ha sun even thought they have the facilities.
Our greatest hinderence is that people ask "what can I get out of it "before doing something.;and since nothing obvious yield-in term of money-KIV it.
There is lots of good things when one do thing out of interest but our mindset have to change.Take obs of the sun as an example--as I obs the sun I notice that tere are prominences that actually levitate in mid air and their occurences are v.very rare.Perhaps that calls for some explanation in magnetic hydrodynamics and plasma physics and of course those photos of the phenomenon precious.If you dont observe you dont even know it exist!Perhaps someday someone may have a project to match the weather in spore with say the solar activities that day and then the solar record (if any )made locally will be useful.
As I had said--a lot of things that should be happening is not happening.Thanks.
As for the sort of projects or useful instruments available,most get detered and always say that our inst. is insufficient.I perfer to say no.Look at other observatory--many made daily record of the sun say by way of daily photographing the sun--you may ask what for--well, thats how people discovered the 11-12 year solar cycle not to mention the mysterious maunder cycle.We have the instruments at the science centre or even some school astro club--well a white light solar filter or one made from a say 77mm filter ring---but we see no one doing it.In fact the Malaysian at Langkawi observatory frequently submit photo to spaceweather.com while our SSc dont bother to keep a record(photographic)of sunspot;Ha sun even thought they have the facilities.
Our greatest hinderence is that people ask "what can I get out of it "before doing something.;and since nothing obvious yield-in term of money-KIV it.
There is lots of good things when one do thing out of interest but our mindset have to change.Take obs of the sun as an example--as I obs the sun I notice that tere are prominences that actually levitate in mid air and their occurences are v.very rare.Perhaps that calls for some explanation in magnetic hydrodynamics and plasma physics and of course those photos of the phenomenon precious.If you dont observe you dont even know it exist!Perhaps someday someone may have a project to match the weather in spore with say the solar activities that day and then the solar record (if any )made locally will be useful.
As I had said--a lot of things that should be happening is not happening.Thanks.