Stories under the stars.


EarthLOG  is a collection of my personal adventures under the stars. They aren't always about astronomy and they aren't always about the equipment.

On Location Report : Astronomy 2001 Singapore pictures  

Event Astronomy 2001 Singapore comes to a successful close. The Organizing Committee thanks everyone involved, especially all volunteers and event sponsors. Link..

03 September 2001 : Fish & Star-Chips (Tioman, Malaysia) pictures

So I was on an island with the sun, sand, sea, fish and stars; Crystal waters sparkling under the moonlight..

21 July 2001 : Morning Coffee & the Planets (Johor, Malaysia)

Five planets in one night.. I'm missing four more to complete the Solar System collection. With the KK Wide Scan II 30mm eyepiece, the stars never looked better.

July 2001 : ..and the exhibition's public tour continues to the schools. Mars' perigee has come and gone. A dust storm is brewing on the red planet's surface. A partial lunar eclipse this month (July 05, umbral eclipse starts 9.35pm- Maximum eclipse at 10.55pm - umbral eclipse ends 12.15am Singapore time) and a fading comet Linear in Cetus-Pisces region.  

July 2001 : ..and the exhibition's public tour continues to the schools. Mars' perigee has come and gone. A dust storm is brewing on the red planet's surface. A partial lunar eclipse this month (July 05, umbral eclipse starts 9.35pm- Maximum eclipse at 10.55pm - umbral eclipse ends 12.15am Singapore time) and a fading comet Linear in Cetus-Pisces region.  

19 June 2001 : Camp Vega - Stars of Ophir Part II (Gunung Ledang, Malaysia) 

The second off-island camp in the spirit of Astronomy 2001. This time we had the stars in our hands. The binocular views of the universe were spectacular.

25 May 2001 : AstroBash!VII - Stars of Ophir Part I (Gunung Ledang, Malaysia)

"Dear Jacksen,, A most exciting and dramatic AstroBash experience ever.. Too bad you couldn't make this trip. You'd have enjoyed it."

May 2001 : At this point in time, I have absolutely devoted all of my available time to Astronomy 2001 Singapore.  I have precious little time to observe the transition of the planets and constellations, solar and lunar, much less to photograph them for now. The solar spots have been a storm; Mars has been growing too. Soon, soon..  I'm glad to even get a few days off to go stargazing. 

May 2001 : At this point in time, I have absolutely devoted all of my available time to Astronomy 2001 Singapore.  I have precious little time to observe the transition of the planets and constellations, solar and lunar, much less to photograph them for now. The solar spots have been a storm; Mars has been growing too. Soon, soon..  I'm glad to even get a few days off to go stargazing. 

14 March 2001 : Camp Polaris (Tebing Tinggi, Malaysia) pictures

The first off-island astronomy camp this year for Singapore youths. I had a wonderful time searching the stars with this group who had not yet seen the full glory of dark skies.

08 February 2001 : Islands of Stars (Penang, Malaysia / Phuket, Thailand) & 09 March to 11 March (Penang, Malaysia) pictures

Combining my experiences at both the exhibitions held at Komtar (February) and at Island Plaza (March). Also featuring the Blue Canyon Country Club.

On Location Report : the Penang Astrophotography Exhibition & Astrofest 2001 pictures (Includes a private interview with S.W.Teoh of Sky & Teoh Observatory.)

On Location Report : the Penang Astrophotography Exhibition & Astrofest 2001 pictures (Includes a private interview with S.W.Teoh of Sky & Teoh Observatory.)

Coasting over the area between Penang (Malaysia) and Phuket (Thailand), lay many an island scattered at the gateway to the Straits of Malacca. There appears to be several distinctive islands that appear unfazed by world zipping by. I can just imagine the potential of these islands as future sites for astronomical expeditions.

2001 : Thai Buddhism and the Stars (Bangkok / Chiang Mai, Thailand)

This trip to Thailand really sparked off a lot of new thoughts in me. This field of cultural astronomy is fun to explore. It helped a little to discover that the first realm of the Buddhist heaven lay just beyond the Moon. (There are 31 planes of existence in Buddhist philosophy, covering all known gods (including the God) and non-gods, creatures and non-creatures, heavens and hells.)

Christmas 2000 : Season's Cheer to All (Earth)

The waning Moon and Venus set steadily over western horizon. Jupiter and Saturn overhead. If the Christmas Star were anything like Venus, I'll follow it over the horizon too. My experiences this year are all too fascinating even to me. Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

27 November 2000 : AstroBASH!VI Of Rain & Stars (Mersing, Malaysia) pictures

How does one make a pact with the skies to be both full of stars and NOT rain at the same time? Then again it's the monsoon season and no one bargains with the weather. Pegasus and Andromeda overhead, Orion to the east, Gemini and Cancer rising from the seas, water splashing into our upcast eyes; Not too bad really.

17 November 2000 : Of Planets, Moon and Leonids (Singapore)

Target Saturn found. I was unprepared for the view around Saturn. Two small star-like points near this gas giant. I can only guess that one of them is the satellite Titan. The other one, I think is Rhea. These are the only two satellites that could be brighter than 10th magnitude. There was a third star-like point, but I think that one really could be a star.

11 November 2000 : GAS GIANTS GAZING : Starring the WYO Fluoro Star 100 (Singapore)

Jupiter at 320x. Now this was getting exciting... William Yang wasn't kidding when he said this would rival AstroPhysics and Takahashi. I see why now and I wish him well in breaking the astronomical market the world over.

26 October 2000 : the K.L. experience (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) pictures

My first trip up to K.L. to view the Malaysia Astrophotography Exhibition. My first priority there was to report on the exhibition. I honestly did not expect any other programmes other than hanging out at the exhibition since I knew only one person there. By some quirk of fate, I traced two old friends who are now working in K.L.

On Location Report : the Malaysia Astrophotography Exhibition 2000 pictures (Includes a private interview with William Yang of William Yang Optics; and Lin Qisheng, a renowned Taiwanese astrophotographer.)

On Location Report : the Malaysia Astrophotography Exhibition 2000 pictures (Includes a private interview with William Yang of William Yang Optics; and Lin Qisheng, a renowned Taiwanese astrophotographer.)

30 June 2000 : the SkySensor's the Limit (Mersing, Malaysia)

This would be the second time I'm trying the SS2k's three-point alignment. I'd since been practicing and running motor and GOTO trials at home. I figured I was ready to take on the stars.

06 May 2000 : First Light (Mersing, Malaysia)

Ever seen the Milky Way in all its glory, a storm of golden lightning on the horizon and a host of meteors all at once? Whoa. Still I managed to get a couple of decent shots on my 4-camera assembly.

04 March 2000 : Starlit Night (Mersing, Malaysia)

Waait a minute.. *Ohmigosh!!* Is that the Coalsack??!! Seriously! We're actually looking at the Coalsack patch in Crux! We can actually SEE that?!

16 November 1999 : LEONIDS of Mersing

I WANT a fireball.. a big, fat, long, colourful and noisy fireball. As if in response, a blinding white flash zipped instantaneously from cloud to earth followed by a resounding crack.

10 September 1999 : the Batu Layar account (Desaru, Malaysia)

Against the contrasting light-coloured sand, I vaguely discerned two dark figures approaching our camp. Military men. *Uh oh.*

14 June 1999 : AstroBASH!III the NUSAS Star Party (Sedili, Malaysia)

As the stars saturated the night, they overwhelmed the novices who had a challenging time figuring out the various constellations and asterisms. Someone in his stellar confusion, thought he had seen Orion, oblivious to the fact that Orion was on his personal June vacation from the night.