April 25, 2011 ALP 30 Nights of StarPeace Report
by Armando Lee
Images by Armando Lee

Last  April 25, Members of Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) and AstroCamp Observatory Services held a joint astro activity  to commemorate the 30 Nights of Starpeace Indonesia-Philippines-Vietnam at the AstroCamp Observatory in San Miguel by the Bay at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Members who were there were ALP PRO Armando Lee , wife Mia and son Jason Lee, Special Event Chairman .Christopher Louie Lu , wife Karen and Frances Lu, Observation Chairman Christopher Lee.  This event was held simultaneously between 3 countries namely Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. They are categorized under Zone 9.  In light with this, 3 respective astronomical organization of these 3 countries held a joint free public observing session in their respective countries from &;00-9:00pm Philippine Standard Time (PST).  They were Astronomical League of the Philippines (ALP) via Armando Lee , Langitselatan group of Indonesia (via Avivah Yamani) and Ho Chi Minh City Amateur Astronomers Club (via Duy Tang Tuan).

The Philippine site gave the public free telescope views of planet Saturn and Titan while participants listen to Sky Scout electronic narration (via a small portable public address system) of the info regarding Astronomy and the planet Saturn. The three country AWB representatives communicated and announced their activity updates via the twitter tag #Starpeace.  A total of 3 telescopes & 5 ALPers were there to help out and show more than 150 people the beauty of the universe during the said time schedule.
 

ALP Observation Chairman Christopher Lee guides the children toward the scope.	ALP PRO Armando Lee pointed the telescope toward the ringed planet Saturn.
Passerbys were awed by the beauty of Saturn!	ALPers posed for a group shot after the conclusion the event.

Other comments on the event:

 It was the 1^st time for Vietnam to join Indonesia and Philippines in doing Starpeace event. Spirits were high and sharing the sky at the same time boosted the spirit of international cooperation in the spirit of PEACE through appreciation of the grandeur of Space. The theme “One Sky, One People” was shared and people of the three countries for a moment realize that they were all connected with the cosmos and that they are at peace as “one people” for that brief time during the Starpeace event. Contact people of the three countries look forward for the next Starpeace event and hopeful that other countries like China and Taiwan would eventually join in too.