Dubai Astronomy Group (Video)

[VinSnr]

Nice..well guess we have to deal with the kind of weather we are dealt with.. I find it abit strange that as the light pollution worsens in sg, more schools , institutions have observatories built, kind of defeats the purpose?

So we must not rely on schools and institutions alone to promote astronomy in SG. From the perspective of general awareness, I rather there are more such observatories built (at lesser costs perhaps). They can serve as regular visual reminder of the need to address the light pollution problem. Else, without such visual reminders, might be even worse in the long term. It's like speed cameras on the road that remind drivers to drive within speed limits.

With more infrastructure being built in sg means more lights. In the future the light pollution here might be so bad that you probably have a hard time viewing the moon also

Haha. Yupe. But then again, with the building height limit removed for some areas, the view may be better at future roof top gardens.

On a serious note, like I have mentioned in a Changi Beach light pollution thread, let's try to find put into action (no matter how small) to back up our serious concern about light pollution by spreading astro awareness which will also increase light pollution awareness. Can be as simple as a commitment to conduct one 30-min sidewalk session every month with a super light grab-n-go setup at a location near our house or workplace. Need not be in super high human-traffic area. 1 more sidewalk "customer" aware about astro per month, 1 more potential supporter for need to reduce light pollution. There may come a time when we need all the public supporters we can get when some super light polluting policies are about to be implemented.

A good example will be the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch) (now Nature Society (Singapore)) impressive commitment to spread nature awareness over the decades. If not for their hard work over the years (and other nature-loving activists), we may have Gardens by the Sungei Buloh super skyscrapers!

So every time you feel the light pollution problem is too big to solve in Singapore, go for a nature walk at Sungei Buloh!

Gary, well said!

[Gary]

Thanks Vincent. Just tweeted this very well-written article about DAG that will inspire local amateur astronomers and promoters.

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Spend time and $ organising astro event just to have ONE person turn up? Thank goodness they didn't give up 20yrs ago!

Read more: http://gulfnews.com/life-style/leisure/ ... t-1.684319

[antares2063]

Good times, good times

Yeah thinking of the times when east side had that multi-storey car park to obs from, was asking my JC friends to come take a look whenever I was there...haha

[Gary]

Just want to highlight a related point in view of GCC being featured on TV recently in regards to promoting astronomy awareness.

Big prominent observatory dome --> attract public attention --> attract TV producers interest to feature it --> segment shown on national TV --> many people watched it --> increase in Galaxy Astronomy Club membership --> excitement building up for this coming weekend public session which may attract even more people into the hobby = increase in astronomy awareness.

Other bonus snowball effects include:

(1) Absolutely convincing proof to the public that stars and planets *still* can be seen in Singapore on a clear enough night. Else why spend the relatively large sums of money building it? So it's still not too late to raise awareness and address the problem of light pollution. A 5-minute national primetime TV segment like this will spread more astro awareness than hours of sidewalks in one particular location in Singapore.

(2) Local female amateur astronomers featured on TV. Imagine the scores of science/astronomy-loving females watching the programme and realise that they are not alone and not considered "weird" or "nerdy"!

All this happened because of one decision - to build an observatory in the heartland.

No doubt there are cons of building observatories in light-polluted Singapore, but the above pro cannot be easily dismissed as not significant either.

I am not advocating every CC to build a large observatory. For small country like Singapore, 2 public large observatory is not considered too much. Maybe still scope for 2 more - one in the East, one in the South.

[starfinder]

I am not advocating every CC to build a large observatory. For small country like Singapore, 2 public large observatory is not considered too much. Maybe still scope for 2 more - one in the East, one in the South.

I agree. Years ago, I visited an NParks exhibit at Singapore Botanic Gardens on the then upcoming Gardens by The Bay and the eastern gardens across the bay (still years away). They were asking for suggestions from the public. I put in a written suggestion for the building of an astronomical observatory at the Gardens by the Bay site, saying that even from Singapore, we have very good views of the Moon and the planets. However, they did not respond to my suggestion (as I recall), let alone followed it. I even spoke to one of the officials there during the exhibition to explain it.

So there you go. I think neighbouring countries are much ahead of us on this. If the largest mirror in the land is a privately owned 18" dob, you know what priority it has. Astronomy, unlike phamaceuticals R&D, wouldn't contribute to economic growth.

Instead, nearby is a casino that shoots out ridiculous ultra bright multiple laser beams every single night from 8pm onwards. The beams assault the night sky for about 2km and is a total waste of electricity. I know because I have to put up with it when I look out my window. Too bad for the environment. But it's good for tourism.

[antares2063]

Gavin: those mega laser beams must have been of a super high Mw rating to be able to seen in our bad light pollution..

[Gary]

@starfinder - Good to know you have suggested building an observatory at Gardens. The effort to suggest that is commendable regardless of its outcome. Now all they have is a binocular near the pond for observing dragonflies a few meters away?

Your observatory suggestion was most probably pre GE 2011 and National Conversation time. As we can see over the decades, some suggestions only get implemented after years and years of suggesting - (e.g. bicycle tracks, BTO flats for singles). So don't be too disheartened and keep suggesting.

You may fail proposing 99 times to different organisations. But the 100th time may make a huge difference of having another observatory for many decades to come.

Astronomy can attract tourism dollars if it is marketed properly and run by a committed and passionate team with a long-term vision.

[starfinder]

What??? Build an astronomy observatory and market it to attract tourism dollars? Oohh, you've hit a raw nerve with me there, haha. It's like feeding milk to a baby in order to fatten it up for the wolf.

There are already >12m tourists per year on this tiny overcrowded island but they can never stop themselves from saying, as with everything, "Please sirs can we have some more".

[Gary]

What??? Build an astronomy observatory and market it to attract tourism dollars? Oohh, you've hit a raw nerve with me there, haha. It's like feeding milk to a baby in order to fatten it up for the wolf.

There are already >12m tourists per year on this tiny overcrowded island but they can never stop themselves from saying, as with everything, "Please sirs can we have some more".

LOL. I said Astronomy. So not necessarily must be in the form of an observatory fixed in one location. With more plans to expand Changi Airport, more tourist can pour in.

[starfinder]

I, starfinder of Singastro, hereby proposeth the following set forth hereunder:

(1) That a 40in teleskope under the name and style of "The 1 metre Planetary Survey Tropical Telescope" be built on that piece of land situated at Marina South,

(2) That the said 1mPSTT be established with Publik funds and opened to the General Publik for the Inspiration and Education of the Common Good and for Scientifik Research,

(3) Such teleskope be operational by latest 2017.

I think I had proposed something similar a long time ago.

I would add that if Gary can bring it about, we'll just call it the Gary 1m Telescope, haha. As long as we don't name a public facility after a bank or the ultra rich.

With that Singapore will be at the same level as the US was over 100 yrs ago.