March 29, 2014 ALP Caliraya Stargazing Session Report

March 29, 2014 ALP Caliraya Stargazing Session Report
by James Kevin Ty
Images by James Kevin Ty , Mike Enage, Ronald Sison, Miguel Cajita, Val Villanueva

Last March 29, members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) proceeded to Caliraya, Laguna to do some observation and imaging under dark skies. Members who were present were ALP President James Kevin Ty, wife Charito and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty; Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan & Iah Serna; Auditor Edgar Ang, directors Mike Enage & Peter Benedict Tubalinal ; Ronald Sison , Mark Ian Singson , Miguel Cajita with parents Trix and Mel Cajita , Ernesto Luy & new member Val Villanueva.

They arrive at the site at around 5:00pm and set up their equipment after having dinner. ALP President James Kevin Ty brought along his modified Canon EOS 1000D DSLR with Canon EF100-400mm L lens on Kenko Sky Memo-R tracking mount ; Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan brought along Canon EOS 500D DSLR with Skywatcher 80ED refractor on Vixen GP mount; directors Mike Enage with his modded Canon EOS 350D DSLR with TMB 92 refractor on Vixen GP-DX mount ; Ronald Sison with his Nikon D3100 DSLR on William Optics 80ED refractor on Skywatcher EQ-5 mount. Auditor Edgar Ang with his Canon EOS 400D DSLR with Canon EFS18-55mm Kit lens on Vixen Polarie mount ; director Peter Benedict Tubalinal with his 10x50 binoculars ; Mark Ian Singson also with his 10x50 binoculars ; Miguel with his Celestron C130 Newtonain reflector on EQ-2 mount. Val Villanueva with his Nikon D7000 & D3 DSLR with Nikon 14mm wide angle lens on Vixen Polarie mount. Ernesto Luy with his Celestron Prodigy 130 Newtonian reflector.

The sky was clear most of the evening except when clouds rolled in around 9:30pm till 12:00am and afterwards it was perfectly clear till sunrise! The sky was again clear past 2:00am , the entire stretch of Milky Way from Crux to Cygnus was visible !!! James image Omega Centauri globular star cluster as well as M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula; Mike imaged Eta Carina nebula as well as M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula ; Ronald imaged M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula , Val imaged the Milky Way as well as Polaris star trail using his Nikon DSLR on Vixen Polarie mount. Miguel imaged the Milky Way region as well. It was another good Caliraya stargazing session in succession!

The group had a group shot before heading to Aviles Bulalo House in Calamba to have their Brunch before going home feeling satisfied and looking forward for another session in April 26.

NGC3373 Eta Carina Nebula by Mike Enage	Polaris Star Trail by Val Villanueva
NGC139 Omega Centauri Globular Star Cluster by James Kevin Ty	M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula by James Kevin Ty
M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula by Mike Enage	M8 Lagoon & M20 Triffid Nebula by Ronald Sison
Summer Milky Way by Val Villanueva	Summer Milky Way by Miguel Cajita
Kendrick Cole KC & mom ALPer Charito Ty observe the Milky Way through a 10x50 Celestron binoculars.	ALPer Edgar Ang beside his Canon EOS 400D DSLR with 18-55mm Kit Lens on Vixen Polarie Mount.
ALPer Mike Enage beside his Canon EOS 350D Modified DSLR on TMB92 refractor on Vixen GPD2 mount.	ALPer Ronald Sison beside his Nikon D5100 DSLR on William Optics Zenithstar 80ED refractor on Skywatcher EQ-5 mount.
ALPer Val Villanueva beside his Nikon D7000 DSLR with Nikon 14mm Lens on Vixen Polarie Mount.	ALPer Miguel Cajita beside his Celestron C130 Newtonian reflector on EQ-2 mount.
(L-R) ALPers Edgar Ang, Peter Benedict Tubalinal & Mark Ian Singson	ALPers Andrew Ian Chan & Iah Serna beside his Canon EOS 500D DSLR on Skywatcher 80ED refractor on Vixen GP mount.
ALPer James Kevin Ty beside his Canon EOS 1000D Modified DSLR with Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens on Kenko Sky Memo-R Star Tracker.	Brunch Time at Aviles Bulalo House in Calamba, Laguna. Yummy !!!