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July 22, 2023 ALP Astronomy Experts Speaker Series featuring Br. Guy Consolmagno , S.J.

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“Vesta and the Chaotic Formation of Planets”

by Br. Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J. (Director, Vatican Observatory)
The Astronomical League of the Philippines is inviting everyone to join us this July 22, 2023 (Saturday) at 8:30 pm Philippine Standard Time (8:30 am EDT, 12:30 UTC) for an online talk on “Vesta and the Chaotic Formation of Planets”by no other than the Pope’s astronomer and the Director of the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Br. Guy J. Consolmagno, S.J.
Abstract:
Ten years ago, NASA’s Dawn mission was sent to asteroid 4 Vesta to inspect, up close, an intact protoplanet from the dawn of the solar system. Except, Vesta’s overall density is too low and its core and crust too big to fit anything like what we expect an intact protoplanet to look like. Instead, Vesta is giving us new clues to planet formation and evolution in a violent early solar system.
Biography:
Br. Guy Consolmagno S.J. is the director of the Vatican Observatory and a planetary scientist studying meteorites and asteroids. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT and Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, all in the field of planetary science. He entered the Jesuit order in 1989 and joined the staff of the Vatican Observatory in 1993.
Along with more than 200 scientific publications, he is the author of several popular books on astronomy and the relationship between faith and science. In 2014, he was recognized by the American Astronomical Society’s Division for Planetary Sciences with the Carl Sagan Medal for excellence in public communication in planetary sciences. In 2000, the International Astronomical Union named asteroid 1983 UA1 as 4597 Consolmagno in his honor.

June 24, 2023 ALP Astronomy Experts Speaker Series featuring Br. Robert Macke , S.J.

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A talk on falling stars, ” Meteorites in the Vatican”

Please join us this June 24, 2023 (Saturday) at 8:30 pm Philippine Standard Time (8:30 am EDT, 12:30 UTC) for an online talk on meteorites by Br. Robert Macke, S.J. , Curator of the Vatican Meteorite Collection.

Biography:

Brother Robert Macke S.J. is a research scientist and curator of meteorites at the Vatican Observatory. He received a bachelor of physics from MIT in 1996, then studied at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, to receive a Master of Arts in physics in 1999. He taught astronomy for two years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio before entering the Jesuit order in 2001. As a Jesuit brother, he received a Master of Arts in philosophy from St. Louis University in 2006, and after a year teaching astronomy at Rockhurst University began work toward a Ph.D. in physics (planetary science specialty) at the University of Central Florida, which he completed in 2010. From 2011-2013, he studied for a Master of Theological Studies at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and then joined the staff of the Vatican Observatory in 2013. He became the curator of the Vatican Meteorite Collection in 2013. To date, he has been involved in numerous research collaborations, including membership in the science teams of the Lucy and the OSIRIS-REx space probes, and has applied his research techniques to a large number of moon rocks from the Apollo missions. Outside of research, he makes YouTube videos both for the Vatican Observatory and for his own channel, “Macke MakerSpace.”

Abstract:

The Vatican Observatory is a research institution with a long and proud tradition in the astronomical sciences. The work of the observatory, done by Jesuit scientists, serves as a sign to the world of the compatibility of faith and science as well as the Catholic Church’s support of science. In addition to traditional astronomy, the Jesuits of the observatory also study theoretical physics, planetary science, and laboratory work with meteorites. The Vatican collection of over 1,200 meteorite specimens is housed at the Vatican Observatory. Research with the meteorites focuses primarily on physical properties: density, porosity, magnetic susceptibility, and thermal properties. These measurements are not limited to the Vatican collection; through international collaborations, we also study other collections. I will also speak a little bit about the application of my work to the OSIRIS-REx space mission and the specimens from the asteroid Bennu that it is delivering to the Earth.

May 20, 2023 ALP Astronomy Experts Speaker Series featuring Dr. Debra Elmegreen

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“A Glimpse of Galaxies at the Dawn of the Universe”
by Debra M. Elmegreen, Ph.D. (President, International Astronomical Union)
May 20, 2023 (Saturday), 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (8:30 a.m. EDT)

Our home planet Earth resides in a spiral galaxy which is the Milky Way. Have you ever wondered what galaxies are, their structure, and how they are formed in the Universe? Please join us this May 20, 2023 (Saturday) at 8:30 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (8:30 a.m. EDT) for an online talk on ““A Glimpse of Galaxies at the Dawn of the Universe”, by no other than Dr. Debra M. Elmegreen, the current President of the. International Astronomical Union. Dr. Elmegreen’s talk will explore the composition and structure of galaxies across cosmic time, probing the evolution of galaxies as they grow and interact with one another.

Dr. Debra M. Elmegreen was the Professor of Astronomy on the Maria Mitchell Chair at Vassar College from 1994 to 2022, after joining the faculty in 1985. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University (the first female to major in astrophysics) and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University and was a Carnegie Observatories Postdoctoral Fellow (the firs Her research focuses on the structure and evolution of galaxies at optical, infrared and radio wavelengths. She enjoys observing with the Hubble Space Telescope and now, with the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr. Elmegreen is President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) — the first U.S. female to hold this position in its 103-year history — and Past President of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).

May 5/6, 2023 ALP Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Image Gallery

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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.

Jett Aguilar

Images taken using Canon EOS R8 mirrorless camera with Canon EF1.8X extender on Takahashi TSA102 Refractor. 1/250sec exposure at ISO 100.

 

Peter Benedict Tubalinal

Image taken using Vivo V27e Smartphone afocal on Celestron Nexstar 8i SCT with Celestron ELux 25mm Plossl.

 

 

 

April 30, 2023 ALP Astronomy Experts Speaker Series featuring Dr. Daniel Green

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Comets, the so called denizens and visitors from deep space, have inspired awe and even fear since ancient times. On April 30, 2023 (Sunday), at 9;30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (April 29, Saturday, 9:30 p.m. EDT), please join us for an online talk on “A Brief Tutorial on Comets” by Daniel W. E. Green, Ph.D. , Director, Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EslAx6JD-ks
Dr. Green will talk about what comets are, how they are becoming harder to define in terms of their physical nature, how they are discovered and named, some statistics regarding comets, and how amateur astronomers can contribute greatly to the science of comets.
Dr. Daniel Green has been the Director of the International Astronomical Union’s CBAT since 2000. The CBAT is responsible for the dissemination of information on transient astronomical events (i.e. comets) and various IAU news including the announcement of designations and names of various celestial objects. He is involved in research of small bodies of the solar system — particularly, comets and meteors but also minor planets. He collects and archives/publishes data on comets from observers around the world, and these data are published in the International Comet Quarterly.
Dr. Green is also a member of the International Astronomical Union’s 15-member Committee on Small Bodies Nomenclature, which approves names for comets and minor planets (including trans-Neptunian objects) and their satellites.
He obtained his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy from the University of Durham (U.K.).

April 20, 2023 ALP Partial Solar Eclipse Image Gallery

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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.

James Kevin Ty 

Images taken using Canon EOS M6 mirrorless camera on Borg 76ED Refractor with TV 2.5x Powermate.  Baader 3.8 Solar Filter mounted on Vixen GPDX mount. 1/1000 sec exposure at ISO 200.

 

Jett Aguilar

Images taken using Lunt 100 hydrogen alpha telescope to capture whole disk images of the partially eclipsed sun as well as a Takahashi TSA 102 refractor with a Baader Astrosolar filter (ND5) and a Canon 7D DSLR at prime focus.

 

Kendrick Cole Ty

Partial Solar Eclipse at Maximum taken using Canon EOS 500D DSLR on Cankn EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L Lens set at 400mm f/11. 1/750 sec at ISO 100.

 

Raymund Sarmiento

Images taken using a Mobile Phone Huawei Mate20Pro with a Kase Mobile Scope and a DIY 3d Printed Baader Solar Fllter Adapter. Tracked using a Desk Top Polarie Sky Tracker. 

 

Val Thomas Abapo

Image taken from Cebu, Philippines using WO GT71 Refractor with WO 0.8 Reducer  and Celestron Skyris 132c camera.

 

Peter Benedict Tubalinal 

Images taken using Orion ST80 Refractor with 15mm Expanse Eyepiece and Smartphone.

 

Steven Bacalian

Images taken using Canon EOS 60D DSLR with Celestron C90 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope mounted on Skywatcher Star Adventurer. 

 

Vincent Gella

Partial Solar Eclipse at Maximum taken using Celestron Powerseeker 80MM with Celestron 32mm Plossl with 
Baader Solar Filter 5.0 and Celestron EQ-2 Equatorial mount.

 

Renan Acosta

Images taken using Samsung Fold 4 Smartphone with 30x zoom.

 

Jowen Kibtiani 

Images taken from Polomolok , South Cotabato using Real Me 8 5GB Smartphone with Celestron 20mm Erecting Eyepiece on Celestron Powerseeker 70EQ Refractor on EQ-2 mount.

 

Miguel Cano

Safe projection method used by Miguel Cano using binoculars to show a sharper eclipsed Sun. 

 

Teddy-Ty Chua

Image taken using Samsung S21 ultra.. 70x zoom and Solar Filter.

 

Fung Yu

Image taken using Canon 70D DSLR with Canon EF300mm lens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Father Victor L. Badillo Astronomy Service Award

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ALPer Raymund Sarmiento is this year’s Father Victor L. Badillo Astronomy Service Awardee for 2023 for his “For his innovative development of EQMOD, an open source telescope mount control software, which greatly aided astronomers worldwide.”

Raymund is the Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of GMA New Media, the technology arm of GMA Network.

Serving as CTO of GMA New Media for the past 20 years, he is the co-inventor of some of the R&D projects for the organization, with patents obtained and applied locally and abroad.

He has extensive experience in AI and robotics, recently creating from scratch a Rubiks Cube Solver Robot.

An amateur astronomer as well as member of ALP since 2004,  he also developed a Telescope Observatory / Automation algorithm called EQMOD, which he launched as an open source project in 2006. It remains active to this day.

February 25, 2023 ALP NAW 2023 Closing Event Free Telescope Viewing Session

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Last February 25th, the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) concluded National Astronomy Week 2023 with another Free Telescope Viewing Session at SM by the Bay at SM Mall of Asia , Pasay City.

Members who were present are ALP President James Kevin Ty and son Kendrick Cole KC Ty, Treasurer Andrew Ian Chan, Secretary Justine Co Chan, director Peter Benedict Tubalinal, Joyce Gonsalves, Pam Sabado, and Teddy-Ty Chua.

They initially meetup at Coffee Bean at around 3:30pm to have a short monthly meeting there to discuss logistics as well as install new motor drive on the Joyce’s Celestron Astromaster 114 Newtonian reflector for the free telescope viewing evebr later at 6pm.

James brought along his Borg 76ED Refractor on Vixen GPDX mount, Andrew with his Skywatcher 80ED refractor on Vixen GP mount, Joyce with her Celestron Astromaster 114 Newtonian reflector on CH-2 mount, Teddy-Ty with his Celestron Nexstar SLT127 Maksutov-Cassegrain reflector and Pam’s Svbony SV501P 60mm short tube refractor on sturdy tripod .

They started the event at around 6:00pm by viewing the planet Venus as the sky was also cloudy. They later observe Waxing Crescent Moon also through passing clouds while the people waited patiently as the Moon comes in and out of cloud opening.

More or less around 300 people were able to get a nice view of planet Vebus and the Waxing Crescent Moon. It was also ALP’s 1st free telescope viewing event since the last NAW event in February 2020.

At around 9:15pm, the group had their traditional group picture taken before packing up and went to McDonald’s in Blue Wave to have late dinner before going home.

 

February 19 & 25, 2023 NAW Free Telescope Viewing at SM by the Bay (SMBY)

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There will be a free telescope viewing event by the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) on February 19, 2023 and February 25, 2023 at SM BY the Bay (SMBY) near the fountain area in celebration of National Astronony Week 2023.

On February 19th, the event will start at 3:30pm with a free solar viewing session wherein the public get a chance to view the Sun safely with our member’s solar telescopes. The solar session will end at around 5:00pm.

Afterwards ,  night time free telescope viewing event will start at 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The event is free to everyone to join and get a chance to view planets Jupiter, Venus, Orion Nebula, double star Castor and many more!

On February 25th, ALP will held its NAW closing event with another free telescope viewing session at SM by the Bay (SMBY) from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The event is free to everyone to join and get a chance to view the Waxing Crescent Moon, planets Jupiter & Venus, Orion Nebula, double star Castor and many more!

See you all there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 22, 2023 ALP Astro Experts Series Webinar 2023 with David Levy

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Impact! When a comet collided with Jupiter

The Astronomical League of the Philippines welcomes the New Year with a fascinating online talk revisiting the first observed impact of a comet with the planet Jupiter.

Join us this coming Sunday, January 22, 2023 at 10:30 AM Philippine Standard Time (02:30 UTC, 9:30 PM EST January 21) with David Levy, the co-discoverer of of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, as he talks about comets and the story of comet SL9s historic spectacular collision with the planet Jupiter 30 years ago.

David Howard Levy is a Canadian amateur astronomer and science writer based in Vail, Arizona. To date, he has discovered 23 comets and 61 minor planets, and has written 34 books, mostly about astronomy.

Abstract: 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The comet was discovered by the team of Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy on March 24, 1993, using an 18-inch Schmidt camera at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, California. Fragments of SL-9 crashed into Jupiter during the summer of 1994, producing some of the largest impacts ever observed in our solar system. David will talk about how they discovered the comet and the danger of such objects colliding with Earth in the near future.

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