The Sky Above

Venus and Neptune

Stella's Gaze — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:49:41 +0000

Venus and Neptune were approx. a degree apart last Jan. 14, 2012. I saw these planets within the field of view of my 80mm refractor telescope. Neptune has a visual magnitude of 8.

Due to poor sky conditions, the evening star was my only guide to see the farthest planet. Thanks to Venus, I had my first glimpse of Neptune!

Boticelli’s painting, “The Birth of Venus” depicts the goddess Venus rising from the sea. I really like how this painting gives story to the conjunction of Venus and Neptune (Roman god of the sea) last friday. Thank you, Dr. Quirino Sugon, Jr. of the Manila Observatory for sharing this info.

To the stars!

Philippine Space Science Education Program

Stella's Gaze — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:45:42 +0000

Dr. Rogel Sese is now the government’s Focal Person for the Philippine Space Science Education Program.

Congrats, Dr. Sese!

To the stars!!!

Moon and Jupiter on Spaceweather.com

Stella's Gaze — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:15:24 +0000

My image of the close pairing of Moon and Jupiter last Jan. 2, 2012 was featured at Spaceweather.com: http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=02&month=01&year=2012

Kindly visit the website for more images of the conjunction.

To the stars!

January 2012 Philippine Celestial Sky

Stella's Gaze — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:05:24 +0000

Below are the celestial events this month. The information was collected from Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) and PAGASA monthly sky updates. Pictures were taken from Stellarium software.

(Please return to this post for updates.)

Jan. 2 – Jupiter and Moon (4 degrees apart)

Jan. 3-4 Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Jan. 9 – Full Moon

Jan. 16 – Last Quarter

Jan. 18 – Saturn and Moon (before dawn) – Look East

Jan. 23 – New Moon

Jan. 26 – Venus and Moon (dusk) – Look West

Jan. 31 – First Quarter

Happy Observing and clear skies!

Best Planetary Conjunctions 2012

Stella's Gaze — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:54:05 +0000

Some of the best planetary conjunctions to check out this year. Pictures taken from Stellarium software:

March 13-14, 2012: Venus and Jupiter 3 degrees apart in evening sky.

July 15-16, 2012: Crescent moon near Venus and Jupiter in dawn sky.

Nov. 27, 2012: Venus and Saturn less than 1 degree apart in dawn sky.

Happy Observing and Clear Skies!

Happy 2012!!! (Fireworks over Metro Manila, Philippines)

Stella's Gaze — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:02:21 +0000

My view of New Year 2012 in the Philippines!

Happy New Year, everyone!!

To the stars!

Happy New Year 2012!

Stella's Gaze — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:48:24 +0000

Greetings!

Hoping for more clear skies next year!

To the stars!

Lights of the Night Sky: Moon and Venus

Stella's Gaze — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:25:24 +0000

I missed the close pairing of Moon and Venus last Dec. 27, so I decided to observe it tonight (although not as close as yesterday).

It was still a magnificent view despite poor transparency.

To the stars!

Venus and Moon tonight!

Stella's Gaze — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:24:59 +0000

Don’t forget to observe the thin crescent moon (with earthshine) and Venus at 6pm tonight. Look West-Southwest. Clear Skies!

Image taken from SkySafari Plus

Comet LoveJoy: A Spark of Hope

Stella's Gaze — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:29:43 +0000

Comet Lovejoy is visible near Earth’s horizon in this nighttime image photographed by NASA astronaut Dan Burbank, Expedition 30 commander, onboard the International Space Station on Dec. 22, 2011. -NASA SDO

Comet LoveJoy survived the close encounter with the sun and as a result, it became one of the most stunning sungrazing comets of all time! It is now visible in the southern hemisphere. The name of this comet fits our idea of Christmas (Love and Joy!). Also, it serves as a reminder that in life there is such thing as surviving the impossible (this comet flew throughthe hot atmosphere of the sun and emerged intact! http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/comet-lovejoy.html).

Our country is grieving with what happened in Northern Mindanao. Like Comet LoveJoy, we can overcome this tragedy! Makakabangon din tayo!

Merry Christmas to everyone especially to my fellow Filipinos! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

To the stars!

Christmas Astro Items

Stella's Gaze — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:15:49 +0000

I bought 11 mini notebooks with imprinted zodiac constellations. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include Scorpius. I will give these notebooks to my friends. I bought these items at National Bookstore in Trinoma.

I also bought a 3D Solar System 2012 Calendar with NASA and ESA Images. It has 6 calendar sheets with two months per calendar sheet that include a true 3D lenticular in the dimension of postcards. Thanks to my mine who saw this item. You can get this calendar in Powerbooks.

I recommend these cheap and affordable items as Christmas gifts to your friends or loved ones who are astronomy enthusiasts. But if you have the budget, you can visit Cutting Edge store in Ayala Malls and SM Malls to buy them Celestron binoculars and telescopes.

You may visit this link to see my blog about my Celestron Telescope: http://theskyabove22.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/new-telescope-c90-maksutov-cassegrain-telescope/

Enjoy your holidays, everyone. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Philippine Flood Hazard Maps (Mga Mapa ng Pilipinas sa PagBaha)

Stella's Gaze — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:49:25 +0000

Hi sa lahat! Pasensiya na po kung maglalagay po ako ng out of topic na post. Nakakabahala po talaga kasi ang nangyayaring trahedya pagrating po sa baha at bagyo. Sana makatulong po ang post ko na ito sa inyo at sana maibahagi niyo na rin po sa iba. Salamat po.

Hindi na po tayo natuto sa Ondoy. Nakakalungkot ang nangyari sa Mindanao. Dahil dito, gusto ko po sana ibahagi sa inyo ang website na ito na ginawa ng mga research assistants, student assistants, at volunteers ng UP-NIGS. Meron po tayong Flood hazard maps na matagal na pong ginawa at pwedeng tignan kahit anong oras sa internet. Magsisilbi ito bilang paghahanda at babala sa mga lugar na maaaring maapektuhan ng baha at bagyo:

http://www.nababaha.com/

Nakapagpost na rin po ako tungkol dito ilang buwan na ang nakakalipas. Nakasulat ito sa ingles at kung meron man sa inyo na mas gusto makapagbasa ng ingles maaari niyo pong puntahan ito:

http://theskyabove22.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/philippine-flood-reporting-and-mapping-system-www-nababaha-com/

Huwag na po sana nating hintaying marami na naman ang magbuwis ng buhay.

Salamat po.

Geminids 2011 Images from the Philippines

Stella's Gaze — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:07:01 +0000

The images below were taken by Filipino amateur astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts!

Awesome shots!!

To the stars!

Geminid above PAGASA Observatory (image by Nico Mendoza, Chito Colonel, and Frank Kelvin Martinez)

Image by JV Noriega

Image by Joanne Escober

Sunset Rainbow at the Manila Observatory

Stella's Gaze — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:54:31 +0000

This image was taken by Randell Teodoro of the Manila Observatory on his way home:

What a lovely sight!

Dec. 10, 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse Images in the Philippines

Stella's Gaze — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:15:34 +0000

I only managed to get a very few shots of the total lunar eclipse. Thanks to overcast skies and uncalibrated mount.

I placed my setup in front of the Solar Telescope building of the Manila Observatory. I observed with my man, Genie Lorenzo, and first-year students in ADMU.

I would like to thank my man for all the help, love, support and patience. Without him, our observation won’t be possible.

My images of the red moon:

My man’s wide angle image:

We also saw a lunar halo while moon exits umbra:

Observing near this place made me think of the Jesuit observers years ago who also love to look up and record astronomical events...

Below are fantastic and awesome images taken by Filipino amateur astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts:

Christopher Go

Nathaniel Custodio

Anthony Urbano

Rodion Herrera

Jett Aguilar

Nico Mendoza

JV Noriega

James Kevin Ty

Henry So

Joanne Quirante-Escober

Ted Gonzaga

Vincent Lao

Norman Marigza

Mark Arzadon

Media Coverage of the Total Lunar Eclipse Observation:

Total Lunar Eclipse kagabi, nahirapan makita dahil maulap

Congratulations to all who never gave up to observe this event despite cloudy and rainy skies!

To the moon!