December 15-16, 2012 ALP Caliraya Stargazing Report
by James Kevin Ty
Images by James Kevin Ty, Gary Andreassen , Mike Enage & Alex Enage

Last December 15, despite the prediction of a so so weather, some members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) decided to proceed to Caliraya , Laguna to have their monthly weekend stargazing session under dark sky.   Members who were present were ALP President James Kevin Ty, wife Charito and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty; Gary Andreassen and wife Irma Andreassen  ; Mike Enage and dad Alex Enage, Arnel Campos and friend Jerry Calvadores and newest ALPer Per Edman and son Oliver Edman.

They individually proceeded to the site at their own pace but mostly arrived at the site at around 6:30pm. The sky was partly clear with clouds passing in between intervals.  Overall, it was still clear most of the evening although heavy dewing was present that evening. ALP President James Kevin Ty and family arrived late in the evening as they were caught in heavy traffic in Calamba area!

James brought along his Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens on Vixen GP-DX mount with ATIK-16HR ccd camera as well as Vixen Polarie star tracker ; Gary with his Celestron C6N Newtonian reflector and Canon EOS1100D DSLR on Orion SVP EQ-5  mount, Mike with his Vixen Polarie mount and Nikon wide angle lens, Arnel brought along his Celestron C130 Newtonian reflector on EQ-1 mount ; Per brought his Orion XT6 Dobsonian reflector.

With passing clouds interfering a possible long exposure shots through the CCD camera, James opted to cancel his imaging session and observe visually as well as observe  a few Geminids along the way. Gary  and Mike opted to shoot wide field this time around while Per observe through his Orion XT6 visually.

At around 2:45am, light rain started to pour until the early morning time :(  They then get their traditional group shot and headed top Jollibee Pagsanjan and had their breakfast before heading home.  ALP President James Kevin Ty as well as some ALPers  set up plan to observe again this coming weekend to make up for his failed  imaging session.

Newest ALPer Per Edman and his son Oliver join the veteran ALPers to get his first baptismal of fire under dark skies.	ALPer Mike Enage is all smile with his portable Vixen Polarie Star Tracker.  Accompaning Mike is his dad Sir Alex.
ALPer Gary Andreassen posed seriously beside his Celestron C6N Newtonian reflector on Orion SVP EQ-5  mount.	ALPer Arnel Campos beside his Celestron C130 reflector on EQ-1 mount.  Joining him is his friend  Jerry Calvadores.
ALPer James Kevin Ty beside his CCD imaging setup	ALPers had a good breakfast at Jollibee Pagsanjan before heading home.
Winter Milky Way through a wide angle lens mounted on ultra portable Vixen Polarie Star Tracker by ALPer Mike Enage.	Winter Milky Way in Canis Major Region by ALPer Gary Andreassen.
Short North Polar Trail by ALPer Gary Andreassen	Long Exposure North Polar Trail by Alex Enage.

Group Shot

See you in our next Caliraya stargazing session!!!