First Test Image of the Crescent Moon using Canon 500D DSLR with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens set at 400mm f.5.6.

Hello:

After I return home from work, the sky was a bit clear and the crescent Moon in the western horizon. So I brought out the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens and tested on it. Image was not bad and no chromatic aberration can be seen in the image. I use the autofocus system and turn off the Image Stabilization (IS) and focus IMHO is ok. Exposure was 1/250sec at ISO 400.

I use only a photo tripod to mount the Canon 500D together with the said lens and the result is satisfactory for me. I hope to be able to retest my portable system next time on the deep sky objects maybe next weekend if sky is ok.

June 13, 2010 Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 Imaging Session

Hello:

Last June 13, ALPers James Kevin Ty and Andrew Ian Chan proceeded to Caliraya, Laguna to try to recover Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 as they think this weekend is the best chance fir them to see it before it gets too close the glare of the Sun next weekend. Despite a very bad weather in Manila as well as an earlier news of some drizzle in the afternoon at Caliraya. They left Manila at around 8:30pm and arrived at the site at around 11:30pm.

The weather was hazy but most of the zenith object are clear .Milky Way region in the Scorpius / Sagittarius region was clearly visible as it stretched to the constellation of Cygnus! Unfortunately, Polaris was covered by clouds thus they were not able to do any serious astrophotography. James use that opportunity to use a binocular to observe the DSOs found in the Scorpius / Sagittarius region while Andrew use his camera on sturdy tripod to image the Milky Way with short and wide field imaging .

James brought along his new portable system which include Canon 500D DSLR on Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens mounted on Kenko Sky Memo tracking mount. This is quite light and portable compare to the usual imaging workhorse that he uses over the years. Andrew, on the other hand, brought along his 80mm ED Skywatcher refractor on Vixen GP mount with Sky Sensor 2000-PC system.

While waiting for Polaris to appear, both of them took time off to get some rest and wake up at around 3:30am and saw Polaris faintly coming out of the clouds. They didn't waste any time and quickly setup their equipment. They scan the ENE area for the stars Mirfak and Algol as the comet was calculated to be between the 2 fairly bright stars of Perseus. With slight haze near the horizon that hamper their search for the comet, they were able to recover the comet roughly around 3:26am when the 2 helped each other out pointing to the possible location of the comet with the aid of a green laser that James brought. As James checked the image of the field that they think the comet is situated, they were delighted to see its small greenish glow with short faint 1.5 degree tail pointing upwards away from the east horizon. Unfortunately for them, the sky started to get brighter and brighter until they cannot image anymore because there succeeding images were all washout :( Nevertheless, they were quite satisfied with the session.

Comet McNaught C/2009 R1

As they were packing up their equipment, the nice Sun pillar was visible for them to image as well. They left Caliraya at around 6:30pm feeling satisfied that they were able to see Comet McNaught.

Andrew Ian Chan beside his Skywatcher 80ED refractor on Vixen GP mount.James Kevin Ty beside his Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens on Kenko Sky Memo mount.

Group Shot
Canon EF 100-400mm lens set at 100mm focal length.
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L Lens set at 400mm focal length.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS L lens system on Sky Memo up close.
Anti-Crepuscular Ray (it's a dark shadow cast by a cloud against the sun's rays).

May 16, 2010 Venus Occultation Observing Session

Hello:

Last May 16, I together with fellow ALPers Andrew Ian Chan and Babak Parhizkari went to Nasugbu , Batangas and try to document the Venus Occultation by the Thin Crescent Moon. Aside from Nasugbu, ALP also have 2 more observing stations which were in Astrocamp Observatory in SM Mall of Asia as well as in Candaba , Pampanga.

I decided to lead the Nasugbu team so that we will have alternative sites as well to get better chances of documenting the event successfully instead of just one observing site. Also, the reason to pursue the Nasugbu site is because of the low latitude reappearance of Venus from the bright limb of the Moon which was a bit low at 3 degrees in Manila.

In Nasugbu, the reappearance is also very low at 2 degrees above horizon. The good advantage here is that the Venus and Moon will set at the sea line instead of mountains and the plus factor here is that we were able to get an additional 2 minutes more before Venus exits the bright lunar limb. Venus exits at 8:18pm Manila Time compare to Manila's 8:16pm.

Anyway, we depart Manila at around 11:00am and arrive in Tagaytay at around 1:00pm. We then had lunch at Terriyaki Boy before proceeding to Nasugbu, Batangas. We arrived in Nasugbu at around 2:45pm and stayed at Johndel Beach Resort which I had several occultation observing events there before whenever I need a clear out western horizon.

We checked in at the 3rd floor so that we will have an easier time to transport our imaging equipment to the roof deck with convenience later. Inside the room, our astro imaging equipments lay scattered out all over the floor and beds to ensure all items needed area
are intact.

At around 5:30pm, we started to setup our equipment and try to image the elusive green flash but unfortunately, tough luck for us as no green flash was visible with the Sun got flattened out in the sea horizon :( Anyway, better luck next time for us. For this event, I brought along my trusty TV-101 refractor and GP-DX mount. I also installed a Digital 8 video camera so that I can document both in still and video mode. Andrew, on the other hand brought along his Skywatcher 80ED refractor on his new GP mount equipped with Sky Sensor 2000-PC. Babak brought his WO Z70 ED refractor as well as Skywatcher 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope which he will install on his highly portable Takahashi Sky Patrol 2 mount. Initially, I plan to use my Kenko Sky Memo for this event, but since Il don't have a lighter ED refractor such Megrez 72FD or the one I like most, Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 IS L lens. I decided not to bring it and use my old previous mount system instead.

While the Sun is setting, Babak called our attention and pointed to planet Venus which was several degrees above the 2.5 day old thin crescent Moon! It was a very beautiful sight to behold as Venus got closer and closer to the dark limb of the Moon! We stated to check our exposures to get a good balance exposure of the Moon with Earthshine as well as Venus without over exposing too much to make the planet Venus become a blob of light.

At around 7:30pm, we started to monitor Venus as it gets closer and closer to the dark limb of the Moon. At the same time, a lot of my friends and colleague started to call my mobile to ask what the bright star that is above the Moon. I told them it was planet Venus and they were quite surprised and excited when I told them the Venus will disappear suddenly at around 7:36pm :) For our area in Nasugbu, estimated time of Venus disappearance (Ingress) will be at 7:36pm and exits behind the bright limb of the Moon at around 8:18pm.

True enough, Venus disappeared exactly at 7:36pm and reappeared at 8:18pm! We synchronize our watches and camera clock with my GPS unit. It also provided our current location at 14.0716 North and 120.6254 East. Our final contact timing time of Ingress was 7:36:07pm and Egress at 8:18:11pm.

After the event, Babak and Andrew tried testing their new mounts on starts and DSOs to check tracking accuracy. Before we packed up, we had our traditional group shot taken and when we arrived back to our airconditioned room, we cool down our body then took a good shower and started to load our stuffs back to the car. Since the restaurant was already closed at 10:30pm, we had our very late dinner at Jollibee Tagaytay before going back to Manila.

ALP President James Kevin Ty beside his TV-101 refractor and video cam on GP-DX mount.
ALPer Andrew Ian Chan posed proudly beside his Skywatcher 80ED refractor on GP mount with SS2k.
ALPer Babak Parhizkari beside his Canon 5D Mk2 with Canon 100mm 2.8 lens on Takahashi Sky Patrol 2 mount.
ALP Nasugbu Team posed for posterity after the successful documentation of the May 16, 2010 Venus Occultation by the Crescent Moon.

Overall, this was a very great activity for me as I got to again observe and document another rare event together with great guys like Andrew and Babak! :)

Solar Imaging Session - April 16, 2010 (2 Large Prominences and Large Dark Filament)

Hello:

I was able to observe and image the Sun this morning with fair skies and seeing condition. A sunspotless day today but in Ha light, I can still make out a small and faint remnant of AR 11062 Sunspot Group but I think this will be gone tomorrow.

The large dark filament in the northern limb is still bright and visible till now. 2 very large looped prominences can be seen in the NE and SE limb and I hope these 2 prominences will still give a good show tomorrow for all of us.

Solar Imaging Session - April 14, 2010 (2 Huge Faint Eruptive Prominences and Dark Filaments)

Hello:

I wake up this morning with still a bad stomach but since I'm eager to check the huge eruptive prominence that I missed yesterday because of bad skies, I still put enough strength to check on the Sun. Unfortunately, the huge prominence is gone :( =====

Since I have already setup, I scanned the entire limb to see if there is any activities worth imaging. On the northern limb, I could see numerous dark filaments clearly. AR 11062 Sunspot Group, on the other hand is decaying and almost gone. But to give some incentives to my effort today, the Sun still gives me 2 huge eruptive prominences in the SE limb as a consolation :) LOL

Solar Imaging Session - April 12, 2010

Hello:

The Sun this morning is quiet with only a few small to moderate size eruptive prominences as well as numerous dark filaments on the northern hemisphere of the Sun. Seeing is fair. Hope a new sunspot group will emerge again for us to do some nice imaging again...............

Solar Imaging Session - April 11, 2010

Hello:

I wake up late this morning as In was very tired last night :( I had to wait till around lunchtime before I was able to image the Sun at our laundry area. The Sun today is a bit quiet except for some beautiful dark filaments. One of the biggest dark filament can be viewed near the Northern limb.

AR 11060 Sunspot Group can still be seen in H-Alpha light as well as fainter traces of AR 11061 near the edge of the NW limb. Aside from the above , there is a nice large eruptive prominence that is visible in the SW limb.