The University of the Philippines Astronomical Society is located in the PAGASA Observatory inside the UP Diliman Campus. It is where most night observations are held.
Transits of Venus are exceptionally rare astronomical phenomena. A transit of Venus happens when the planet directly passes between the Sun and the Earth. These transits come in pairs eight years apart but are separated by at least a century.
Views from Venus' Transit in 2004. Credit: NASA/LMSAL
A transit of Venus will be visible here in the Philippines on June 6, 2012. The last sighting was in 2004. The next one will occur in 2117. Thus, this is an event not surely to be missed.
Basically, it is an eclipse of the Sun by Venus. We should see Venus as an apparent dark spot passing across the face of the Sun from around 6:00am until 1:00pm. But be reminded that proper eye protection must be used in observing the transit. Solar filters are available in specialty stores.
Simulation of the Venus Transit on June 6, 2012 as viewed from an Altitude-Azimuth (Alt-Az) mounted telescope from Quezon City, Philippines. Credit: www.sunaeon.com
Shown above is a simulation of the Venus Transit as viewed on June 6, 2012 from an Altitude-Azimuth mounted telescope. The loop is an effect of field rotation in Alt-Az mounted telescopes. However, Venus should be apparently traveling in a straight path across the face of the Sun when viewed on transit.
Transits provide opportunities for Scientists for more research. This is the main reason why many people travel miles just to have the chance to observe the transit. Astronomers are given the opportunity to search for exoplanets. Scientists are able to compare Venus' diameter from past recordings. Besides that, more information about the atmosphere of Venus will be provided. These phenomena also provided more evidence about the distances between the heavenly bodies.
Because this is an astronomical event not to be missed, UP Astronomical Society in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, UPLB Astronomical Society, RTU Astronomical Society, UP PreMedical Society, DOST-PAGASA, and D'Great Rovers presents REKINDLING VENUS. A special coverage of the transit of Venus this June 6, 2012 at the UP Diliman College of Science Amphitheater.
The event is open and free for all, so bring your friends with you in this rare phenomena. See you on that special Wednesday morning, June 6th! For more information, contact Anj 09179494755, Dean 09175807420, or Nico 09264241505. You may also visit our event page for more details.
References:
Rao, J. (2012, May 29). How the Transit of Venus Across the Sun Enthralled Stargazers Through History. Retrieved from http://www.space.com/15893-venus-transit-sun-history.html
Transit of Venus Organization. (2012, May 11). Rare Alignment. Retrieved from http://www.transitofvenus.org/education/science-math/141-rare-alignment
Venus' Transit Image. Image of the Day Gallery. Retrieved from http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_184.html
In celebration of UP Astronomical Society's 20 years of existence, a formal dinner was held last March 10, 2012 at the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory Sun Deck. It was themed as a 1950's Classic Dinner with some hip music to boot. Music, games, awesome performances, and stories from the members made the night a very memorable one.
The Rockin' and Groovin': A Triple Surprise for the Brightest Stars was also held to close the successful celebration of UP Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Week 2012.
The next Executive Cluster was presented during the celebration. They are as follows:
Mary Angelie Alagao as Over-all Coordinator
Francis Kevin Bugaoan as Executive Secretary
Carlo Ray Selabao as Education and Research Cluster Coordinator
Nikko Albano as External Affairs Cluster Coordinator
Beb Jansen Poricallan as Finance Cluster Coordinator
Norman Mascarinas as Observation and Instrumentation Cluster Coordinator
Sheena Salvosa as Resource Cluster Coordinator
A spectacular show of sky lanterns was then held to end the event.
Photo by Anthony Guiller Urbano
Thus, UP Astronomical Society continues to shine under its motto: To the Stars through Difficulties!
Last February, BIG BANG: Astronomy Quiz Show pushed through successfully. This coming year, the organization is already preparing another set of activities that everyone would surely enjoy. So stay tuned friends! We'll keep on updating you. By the way, thank you for all of you who supported us through your participation in our activities. Hoping to see you soon!
BIG BANG 2012
Some of the participants of BIG BANG 2012
Here are the results of BIG BANG 2012 last February 2012:
BIG BANG TEAMS:
San Beda College Alabang Team B
Saint Jude Catholic School Philippine Science High School Pasig City Science High School Team B San Beda College Team A Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino High School Grace Christian College Team A Villamor High School Pasig City Science High School Team A
WINNERS:
Champion: Grace Christian College 1st Runner-up: Pasig City Science High School Team B 2nd Runner-up: Philippine Science High School
UP Astronomical Society and the Philippine Society Youth Science Clubs
Congratulations to everyone who participated! We hope that it was a worthwhile and enriching experience for you as it was with us. Ad Astra Per Aspera - To the Stars through Difficulties!
National Astronomy Week (NAW) is an annual celebration every third week of February in the Philippines (Presidential Proclamation No. 130). Astronomy enthusiasts such as the University of the Philippines Astronomical Society, participate in the celebration through activities set for the public.
The celebration starts off with Lakbay Langit at Siena College of San Jose in Bulacan this February 18-19. UP Astronomical Society's Lakbay Langit is a roaming astronomy camp that allows students to discover the skies in a whole new light. Lectures, sky gazing activities, workshops, and fun games make up the itinerary of the event.
Lakbay Langit at Siena College of San Jose last 2011
(photos by Julee Olave and Liz Alindogan)
Next stop is the DormVisit at UP Kalayaan Residence Hall this February 21. UP Astronomical Society arranges visits to dormitories to be able to reach out to astronomy enthusiasts, as well as to be able to provide awareness of astronomy to students in the University.
But the fun does not stop there! PAGASA Astronomical Observatory's Open House on February 22 provides a medium for the public to get to visit and know more about us. Visitors get the chance to see the wonders of the sky through the Country's Largest Telescope named "Andre the Giant".
Through one of the main objectives of UP Astronomical Society, which is to broaden the awareness, interest, knowledge, and understanding of astronomy among students and the general public, that the first Big Bang! was created. Big Bang is an astronomy quiz show that caters to high school students across Metro Manila. It started during the National Astronomy Week of 2007 with the assistance of the DOST-SEI and of UP NISMED. This year, the event shall take place at UP NISMED too this February 25.
Take-off! on the other hand, is a bottle-rocket making competition for high school students, which aims to develop ingenuity in the minds of the students. This competition also commemorates the great help of rockets to launch the most important astronomical observation instruments such as space probes, space telescopes, and astronauts. This event will take place at the UP NISMED and at the UP Sunken Garden on February 25, simultaneous with the Big Bang!
Aside from these activities, UP Astronomical Society also hosts the Sidewalk Astronomy or Siliptala. This activity is a free public observation, which includes stargazing, telescope viewing, and basic astronomy lectures. The organization visits different locations and caters to people of various fields of experience. On March 3, another Sidewalk Astronomy experience shall take place at the UP-Ayala Technohub, Diliman, Quezon City.
Another Public Observation shall take place on this year's NAW celebration. The organization shall be hosting an observation on the Conjunction of planets Venus and Jupiter this February 26-27. UP Astronomical Society has since then hosted various observations, from meteor showers to lunar eclipses, which is open to the public for free.
And to top it all, the organization aims to reach out to communities who are unfortunately unable to experience astronomy related activities through its final event, Astrosoc Outreach. This shall take place on the 17th of March.
UP Astronomical Society's Lakbay Langit is a roaming astronomy camp that allows students to discover the skies in a whole new light. Lectures, sky gazing activities, workshops, and fun games make up the itinerary of the event. Surely, this activity has left in the students' minds a mark of raised interest and enthusiasm in Philippine astronomy.
Objectives:
• Promotion of Astronomy to students through a camp of games, lectures, and activities • Endorsement of the other astronomical/ organizational events of UP Astronomical Society • Publicity of UP Astronomical Society as a catalyst to gathering the youth as a market for involvement in UP Astronomical Society’s activities • Fostering of communal relations and collaborations between UP Astronomical Society and schools • Assessment and dissemination of astronomical knowledge and know-how to participants of the event and other attendees Overview:
UP Astronomical Society (UP AstroSoc) takes to its hands the challenge of bringing astronomy beyond its walls and into the hands of people. Chief of the goals and objectives of the organization are to open people’s eyes to what is great about astronomy and to broaden what they know about the heavens above.
Astronomy camps are a great venue for students and people in general to get to know what is up there. Through astronomy camps, students get to experience in an overnight event what it means to be an amateur astronomer. With workshops, lectures, games, and other activities aimed at presenting astronomy as fun and enticing, astronomy camps are the perfect way to reach out to the people and tap their minds to see the universe. For more information aboutLakbay Langit, email us at upastrosociety@gmail.com.
The University of the Philippines Astronomical Society (UP Astrosoc) is a non-profit, non-political and non-partisan organization in the University of the Philippines, Diliman devoted to the study and promotion of astronomy to the students.
UP Astrosoc was established in 1991 by 22 undergraduate students. It is dedicated to the promotion and understanding of Astronomy among students and the general public.It also partakes in several astronomy activities throughout the academic year. These include astronomy classes, observing sessions, public astronomy lectures,exhibits and forums.
On the average, the organization has an active membership of 25-35 undergraduate students coming from different colleges in the university. Aside from the usual social activities of a college organization, UP Astrosoc also partakes in several astronomy activities throughout the academic year. These include astronomy classes, observing sessions, public astronomy lectures and forums.
The emblem for the organization is a stylized telescope pointing towards the skies. This is in touch with the organization's motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera - To the stars through difficulties.
UP Astrosoc now resides at the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory, UP Diliman.
For more info email us at upastrosociety@gmail.com. You can also follow us through twitter or our facebook fan page.