Observing Sessions

Below are images taken by members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines. Therefore, all images are the property of ALP as well as the imager mentioned. Any intention to use the images should seek permission to the ALP as well as the main author of the image. To enlarge image for better resolution, kindly right click your mouse and open on new tab.

JAMES KEVIN TY

Images taken using ZWO ASI294MC PRO camera on Borg 76ED Refractor with 1x Flattener and SVBony UV-IR Filter on ZWO AM5 Mount. 2nd set taken using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Astro Mode with VIS Filter at AZ Mode.

VAL ABAPO

Image taken using Celestron C8 8″ f/10 SCT with f/6.3 Focal Reducer and Canon EOS 700D DSLR on Celestron AVX Mount.

CHRISTOPHER GO

Image taken using Celestron C8 8″ f/10 SCT with Nikon Z6 Mirrorless Camera on ZWO AM5 Mount,

JETT AGUILAR

Image taken using Canon R8 Mirrorless camera on Takahashi TSA 102 Refractror with 1.4x teleconverter.

ENRICO AFRICA

Image taken using ZWO ASI2600MM camera with Antlia RGB filters for color on Takahashi FSQ-106N on a ZWO AM5N mount

KENDRICK COLE TY

Image taken using Canon EOS M6 Mirrorless Camera on Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L Lens set at 400mm f/8 mounted on Kenko Sky Memo-R Star Tracker.

FERMIN NAELGA

Image taken using ZWO Seestar S50 Smart Scope.

MIGUEL CANO

Image taken using Dwarf 3 Smart Scope at Photo Mode with VIS Filter at AZ Mode.

MARK IAN SINGSON

Image taken using Meade 90mm Maksutov attach thru Samsung Galaxy A56 5G afocal method with NEXYZ Phone Holder track to Vixen Polarie Portable Tracker

IAN KENNETH UYGONGCO

Image taken using Samsung Fold 5 Smartphone.

ANDREW IAN CHAN

Image taken using Iphone 17 Pro Max Smartphone.

STEVEN BACALIAN

Image taken afocally using Celestron NexYZ adapter on Samsung S24 Smartphone with 90mm Refractor . Last image taken using Canon EOS 60D DSLR on Celestron C90 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope.

RAYMUND SARMIENTO

Image taken using Canon EOS 7D DSLR with Canon EF400mm f/5.6 L Lens.

On the early evening of March 3, 2026, there will be a total lunar eclipse that will be visible in the Philippines as well as Asia, Australia , Pacific and most of the American continent. The Moon will enter the Earth’s light shadow (penumbra) at around 4:44pm (PST) and Earth’s dark shadow (umbra) at around 5:50pm (PST) when the moon is still below horizon. Moonrise will be around 5:58pm (PST) when a small part of the Moon is already eclipsed. The umbral phase will continue to progress until 07:05pm (PST) when it enters totality phase with the Moon situated 15 deg above the eastern horizon. Maximum totality phase will occur at around 7:34pm (PST) with the Moon 22 deg high. Totality phase ends at around 8:03pm (PST) with the Moon rising above 29 deg above the eastern horizon already. Afterwards, Moon will start to slowly exits the Earth’s dark shadow at around 9:17pm (PST). Moon will finally exits the umbral shadow at 10:23pm (PST) with the Moon 61 deg high above the eastern horizon ending the lunar eclipse. Belownis the local circumstances for the total lunar eclipse in Manila, Philippines.

Below are images taken by members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines. Therefore, all images are the property of ALP as well as the imager mentioned. Any intention to use the images should seek permission to the ALP as well as the main author of the image.

Christopher Go

Images taken in Cebu City with Nikon Z6 Mirrorless camera on Celestron C8 2000mm f/10 SCT on ZWO AM5 mount.

James Kevin Ty

Image taken from Manila using Canon EOS M6 Mirrorless camera on Borg 76ED Refractor on ZWO AM5 mount.

Val Abapo

Images taken at Cebu City using ZWO 533MC Pro Astro Camera on WO GT71 Refractor on Celestron AVX mount.

Andrew Ian Chan

Images taken at Nasugbu, Batangas using Canon EOS R Mirrorless camera on Skywatcher 80ED Refractor on Vixen GP mount.

Kendrick Cole KC Ty

Image taken from Manila using Canon EOS 500D DSLR on Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens set at 250mm on sturdy tripod.

Mark Ian SIngson

Image taken from Cavite City using Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless camera on Meade 90B 3.5″ Maksutov Mirror lens mounted on Vixen Polarie Mount.

Jett Aguilar

Image taken from Quezon City using Canon EOS R6 mirrorless camera on Takahashi TSA-102 Refractor mounted on Ioptron CEM70 mount.

Dennis Marquez

Image taken from Quezon City using Samsung A54 smartphone afocal to Celestron Starsense Explorer 102 Refractor mounted on altazimuth mount.

Last February 18, members of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) hosted a free telescope viewing event at SM Mall of Asia SMBY near Viking area. Members who attended were ALP President James Kevin Ty  and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty; Teddy-Ty Chua and son Robert Chua; Pam Sabado, Sarah Hazel Maranan, Miguel Cano and son Quark Cano. 2 scopes were setup for the event with James’ Borg 76ED refractor mounted on Vixen GPDX mount as well as a SVBONY WIFI SC311 camera mounted on Orion MiniGuide 50 scope and Teddy-Ty’s Celestron Nexstar 127.

They setup at the site at around 4:00pm but the Sun was obstructed by the clouds so no solar observation. But at around 7:00pm, clouds started to disperse a bit for them to view the Waxing Gibbous Moon as well as the gas planet Jupiter. Around 50 people were able to get a chance to view the said objects. The SC311 WIFI camera also allows up to 4 more people to observe and image the Moon through their own cellphone to get a souvenir shot for them to take home easily. The camera also allows up to 5 people to simultaneously view the Moon at the same time!  They ended the event at around 9:00pm. It was a good start as ALP hasn’t been able to do their usual FTV for a while after the Covid epidemic that hit all of us back in 2020.

Hope to see all of you again this coming Saturday, February 24 from 3:30pm to 9:00pm at Central Park near fountain and ferris wheel area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Astronomical League of the Philippines, in celebration of annual National Astronomy Week 2024 will be providing 2 telescope viewing events on February 18 (Sunday) as well as February 24, 2024 (Saturday) at SM Mall of Asia’s SM By the Bay grounds near the fountain and ferris wheel area from 3:30pm to 9:00pm. Free solar viewing event from 3:30pm to 5:30pm which showcase our Earth’s closest star, the Sun, which can be viewed safely using our telescopes equipped with safe solar filters. Both white light and hydrogen-alpha wavelength can be viewed through our telescopes.

Nighttime viewing of the Moon , planet Jupiter and some bright deep sky objects such as M42 Orion Nebula, M45 Pleiades star cluster, bright star Sirius and many others will be observe (weather permitting of course.)

 

So what are you waiting for? Get a good chance to see them all for free! Invite your friends and family to attend the event! See you all there!

 

 

Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) in partnership with Cutting Edge held another free telescope viewing event at the garden roofdeck of Ayala Trinoma in Quezon City last October 28, 2023.

Members who attended were ALP president James Kevin Ty, members Kendrick Cole KC Ty, Mark Ian Singson, Teddy-Ty Chua with son John and, Dennis Marquez .

ALP president James Kevin Ty started the event with a short lecture on What’s Up Tonight followed by Basic Telescope Use.

The sky was clear through out after a heavy downpour in the afternoon. The Full Moon as well as planets Jupiter and Saturn were observed that evening.

More than 450+ people got to observe the 3 objects. The event ended at around 9pm with traditional group photo.

Last October 21, 2023 Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) in partnership with Cutting Edge celebrated International Observe the Moon Night 2023 (InOMN) at the 4th floor Garden Roofdeck of Ayala Trinoma . Members who were present are President James Kevin Ty, director Peter Benedict Tubalinal and Dennis Marquez. Cutting Edge provided 3 telescope to host the event using Celestron Powerseeker 114EQ, Astromaster 114EQ and Powerseeker 60AZ.

Event started with Mam Viyow Ignacio of Cutting Edge introducing members of ALP as well as Peter Benedict Tubalinal as this evening lecturer on What’s up in the Sky as well as Basic Telescope Use.

Initially the weather was not looking good as thick clouds covered the entire sky but luckily at around 7pm, the Moon slowly showed itself to the delight of crowd! They also got souvenir images of the Moon taken using the 3 telescopes. Later in the evening, planet Saturn and Jupiter were also visible.

More than 200 people were able to view the Moon as well as planets Saturn and Jupiter. The event ended at 9pm with traditional group shot.

There will be another Free Telescope Viewing event next Saturday October 28 also at Trinoma Garden roofdeck. See you there!

 

 

October 29, 2023 PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

On the early morning of October 29, 2021, there will be a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible in the Philippines as well as Asia. The Moon will enter the Earth’s light shadow (penumbra) at around 2:02am (PST) when the moon is 54 degrees above the western horizon. Moon then enters into the Earth’s dark shadow (Umbra) at around 03:35am PST with the Moon 33 degrees above western horizon. Maximum eclipse will occur at around 4:14am PST with the Moon 23 degrees above the western horizon, Moon will finally exits the umbral shadow at 4:53am PST with the Moon less than 14 deg above the western horizon. The whole penumbral shadow will not be completely visible as Moonset will end the event locally at 5:53am PST.

Since this eclipse is shallow, the Moon will be bright enough to capture even without a motorized tracking mount. Good luck to all and clear skies! Below is a simulated image of the Moon at maximum eclipse. Image by Eclipse 2.0

 

Astronomcal League of the Philippines (ALP) in partnership with Cutting Edge will be having 2 FTV events this Oct 21 and 28, 2023 at 4th Floor Trinoma Roofdeck Garden from 5pm to 9pm. The Oct 21 event will also coincide with our yearly International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN). 

ALP will also be providing 2 live lectures on the spot on how to use a telescope as well as What’s up in the Sky which we will explain what objects that can be viewed on those dates. Several Celestron telescope models will be on display as well as to be use on the event.

Definitely, the Moon and planet Saturn will be good main targets on those dates. Feel free to being tour friends and relative to view the beauty of the night sky with us! Thanks in advance for the support!