December 26, 2019 ALP Manila Team Partial Solar Eclipse Report

By: Mark Ian Singson

Team Leader, ALP PSE Manila

Last December 26, 2019 (Thursday), the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) with the participation of New Era University: Astronomy Enthusiast Society (AES), conducted a FREE SOLAR TELESCOPE VIEWING and observed the Partial Solar Eclipse in SM by the Bay Pasay City, Philippines. Members who participated were ALPer Mark Ian H. Singson and Team Leader of ALP Manila Team , ALPer Jennifer C. Gutierrez, AES founder Mr. Lyndon Spencer Ducusin, Ms. Julie Ann Pedro and Mr. Niňo Sigfred Onrada that helped us with the Free Public Solar Telescope Viewing Event.
Mark brought Canon EOS M50 & 60D DSLR Camera with Meade Maksutov-Cassegrain 1000mm f/11 telephoto lens with sturdy Tripod and 70mm Celestron Travelscope with Celestron equatorial Mount; Jennifer brought 60mm Lunt Solar Telescope with Alt/Az Celestron Mount; Lyndon’s Team brought 60mm Alt/Az Powerseeker Celestron Telescope.
The Team Manila setup was held at SM Mall of Asia, SMBY, Pasay City, Philippines. They arrived at around 12:10 noon (PST) and sky was patchy partly cloudy that afternoon. They had a quick setup to take some images of eclipse around 12:45 noon for the first contact. Other members did some viewing session and showed the public the first ingress using the White Light 5.0 Density Solar Filter and Hydrogen Alpha Filter Telescopes. In this session, some of the team members were waiting for the 60.2% maximum that occurred at 2:19pm. Some of the Media and walk-in participants were shouting and amazed for the partial maximum solar eclipse. Some even took photos of the eclipse thru the telescope.
There were an estimated of more than hundred of people that lined up to witness the beautiful eclipse through the telescope. ALP Manila Team Leader Mark Ian Singson was interviewed by Rappler and Manila Times Philippines regarding the partial solar eclipse that occurred.
At around 3:20pm the sky was totally overcast so the group posed for their group shot for the success of their documentation of the solar eclipse. Afterwards, they packed up and everyone went home happily for they had a wonderful experience.

On behalf of the Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) and the New Era University: Astronomy Enthusiast Society (AES), we would like to extend our heartful appreciation to the management of SM Mall of Asia SMBY for allowing us to setup near the fountain for our viewing site.

*Noted: some of the photo documentation were taken by Mr. Mark Ian Singson and Mr. Lyndon Spencer Ducusin