February 24, 2012 ALP NAW Stargazing Report

February 24, 2012 ALP NAW Stargazing Report
by James Kevin Ty & Christopher Louie Lu
Images by James Kevin Ty, Andrew Ian Chan & Armando Lee

In celebration of the National Astronomy Week , members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines gathered at the Astrocamp Observatory Services located at Mall of Asia, SM by the Bay, Pasay City last February 24 to give a free astronomy outreach to the Filipino public by way of free stargazing session at the site. Members who attended are ALP President James Kevin Ty with wife Chat and son KC, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan with Iah Serna, PRO Armando Lee with wife Mia and son Jason, NAW Chairman Christopher Louie T. Lu with wife Karren and daughter Frances. Other members who arrived was Arnel Campos, Gary Andreasen with wife Irma and son Steinar, Sheldon Espartero, Joanne Escober with her daughter Charie, Jan Karlo Hernandez with dad Junn Hernandez, Kaye Banaag with her Mom and Dad & with new ALP member Mike Enage.

First members to set up in location is NAW Chairman Christopher Louie T. Lu with a Celestron Powerseeker 80mm refractor on a equatorial mount & Arnel Campos with a Celestron Powerseeker 130mm reflector on a equatorial mount while Sheldon Espartero manned the C11 SCT telescope in the AstroCamp. Gary Andreasen brought his 114mm reflector on a equatorial mount. Mike Enage brought his Meade ETX125 Mak. Jan Karlo Hernandez brought his Orion 4” Mak on a Alt/Az mount & Joanne Escober brought her 4” reflector on a Alt/Az mount. Cutting Edge also brought along their Nexstar 4 scope as well as provide dinner packs for the group that evening.

The nights celestial view presented a cool series of targets. There is a thin crescent moon with the planetary conjunction of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. Later that night, Mars and Saturn also became visible. Other celestial targets that was featured that night was the M45 (Pleiades), M42 (Orion Nebula), the 'dog' star Sirius.

Free public stargazing officially started at 7pm where more than 300 curious and very intuitive people got the chance to view though the battery of telescopes and ask questions about astronomy among all ALP members. After the stargazing session is concluded, at around 11pm, all ALP members gathered to have their traditional group picture.

More than 300 curious and very intuitive people got the chance to view though the battery of telescopes and ask questions about astronomy among all ALP members.	ALPers brought their telescopes to share the beauty of the heaven to the public.
ALPer Jan Karlo Hernandez's dad Junn had a good time using an Ipad astro software to navigate himself on the stars and constellations.	ALPer Gary Andreassen pointed his scope to the Moon to the delight of the viewers.
(L-R) ALPers Arnel Campos, Steinar with dad Gary Andreassen and Mike Enage had a great time during the event.	ALPer Mike Enage beside his Meade ETX125 Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope.
ALPer Sheldon Espartero manned the observatory's main C11 SCT.	ALPer NAW Chairman Christopher Louie Lu beside his Celestron Powerseeker 80mm refractor on a equatorial mount.
ALPer Arnel Campos beside his Celestron Powerseeker 130mm reflector on a equatorial mount.	ALP President James Kevin Ty beside Mike's Meade ETX125 Maksutov Cassegrain Telescope.
Cutting Edge staffs brought along their Nexstar 4 to share the views to the public.	Junn: This is how to use an Ipad astro software to navigate the night sky.
ALPer Jan Karlo Hernandez brought his Orion 4” Mak on a Alt/Az mount.	ALPer Joanne Escober share the view of the Moon through his camera's live view mode.
ALPer Jan Karlo Hernandez' dad Junn was so much enjoying the company of ALPers that he inform his son he will officially join ALP as a member in the upcoming March ALP monthly meeting :)	The kids had a great time with ALPer Joanne Escober who shares the view of the Moon through his camera's live view mode as well as telescope.