February 12, 2017 ALP NAW Free Solar and Night Observation Report

February 12, 2017 ALP NAW Free Solar and Night Observation Report
by James Kevin Ty

Last February 12th, Astronomical League of the Philippines held its National Astronomy Week Free Solar and Night Observation Session at SM By The Bay, Pasay City. Members who were present were ALP President James Kevin Ty, wife Charito and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty ; Secretary Christopher Louie Lu, wife Karren and daughter Frances Lu; Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan, Auditor Edgar Ang , PRO Edge Lat , directors Justine Garcia , Iah Serna, Peter Benedict Tubalinal and Ronald Sison ; Mark Ian Singson , Jason Comia , Russell Limcangco, Vincent Gella , Christelle Mariano , Miguel Cajita and Trix Cajita. Our event also was embedded together with SM's Valentine Love Locks and marathon event as well.

Event started at around 3:30pm with several scopes brought along by ALPers. James brought along his Daystar Quark Chromosphere Ha mounted on Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens on Nexstar mount ; Andrew with his Skywatcher 80mm refractor on Vixen GP mount ; Edgar with his Orion XT6 Dobsonian reflector ; Edge with his Meade 90mm refractor on Meade goto mount ; Russell with his Celestron Astromaster C130 Newtonian reflector on CG3 mount ; Mark with his Celestron C90 Maksutov on sturdy tripod ; Ronald with his Celestron C90 Maksutov on sturdy tripod ; Vincent with his Celestron Travelscope 70 on sturdy tripod ; Christopher with his Celestron Powerseeker 80mm refractor on CG2 mount ; Cutting Edge staff with their Celestron Astromaster C130 Newtonian reflector on CG3 mount .

More than 600 people got to view the Sun in both white light and Ha wavelength as well as night objects such as planet Venus and Waning Gibbous Moon and M42 Orion Nebula.

The stargazing session ended at around 9:30pm with customary group shot. They then had a late dinner at Razon's before heading home.