International Year of Astronomy 2009
IYA 2009

 

ALP Projects and Activities for the IYA 2009

  1. Philippine Journal of Astronomy
  2. Philippine Astronomy Convention
  3. Total Solar Eclipse Expedition – July 22, 2009
  4. 100 Hours of Astronomy - IYA Cornerstone Project
  5. Philippine Solar Index Program
  6. Annual Philippine Messier Marathon
  7. StarPeace Global Special Project

 

  1. Philippine Journal of Astronomy

         As its contribution to the development of Philippine Astronomy, the Astronomical League of the Philippines initiated the creation of the very first astronomical journal in the country, the Philippine Journal of Astronomy or PJA. This journal publishes refereed technical papers, non-refereed general astronomy articles, astronomy reviews, conference proceedings, and letters from readers and members of the astronomical community. Members of the editorial board have been chosen for their experience and expertise on different fields, such as observational astronomy, imaging and instrumentation, astronomy education, astrophysics and cosmology.

         For details, please visit the PJA web page at     http://www.astroleaguephils.org/pjastro.html.

         Maiden issue can be downloaded at     http://www.astroleaguephils.org/pja_mar2009.pdf.

     

  2. Philippine Astronomy Convention

         The convention is an annual meeting of professional and nonprofessional astronomers, and is the major astronomy convention in the country. This event serves as a formal forum for the exchange of astronomy relevant ideas and research findings. The 1st Philippine Astronomy Convention (PAC 2009) was successfully held on February 15, 2009 during the National Astronomy Week 2009 celebrations, on the third week of February, at the Rizal Technological University. The university is the only educational institution in the country which offers degree programs in Astronomy: the Bachelor of Science in Astronomy Technology, Diploma in Astronomy, and Master of Science in Astronomy.

         For details, please visit the PAC web page at     http://www.astroleaguephils.org/pac.html

         For details on the 1st PAC (2009), please visit     http://www.astroleaguephils.org/archive/news/090215pac2009.html

     

  3. Total Solar Eclipse Expedition – July 22, 2009

         The ALP will be sending a solar eclipse expedition team to Wuhan, China to document the longest solar eclipse of the century! This will be a momentous and memorable occasion for all of us since this eclipse belongs to the Saros 136 family, similar as with the one observed in Manila way back in June 20, 1955. ALP will conduct scientific research studies, thorough documentation, as well as imaging of the said eclipse. Data from the expedition will then be submitted to corresponding scientific institutions in the US.

         ALP Wuhan Total Solar Eclipse Expedition Full Report
         ALP Shanghai TSE Expediton Full Report
        
    ALP Jiaxing TSE Expedition Full Report
         ALP Philippines Partial Solar Eclipse Full Report

     

  4. 100 Hours of Astronomy - IYA Cornerstone Project

         The Sidewalk Astronomers has named Dr. Armando Lee as its National Organizer of the Philippines for 2009. The Astronomical League of the Philippines, together with Dr. Lee, is taking a lead role in organizing the 100 Hours of Astronomy event in the country. Observation sessions are planned for April 2 - 5, which will coincide with the International Sidewalk Astronomy Night (ISAN), and the Global Star Party on April 4th.

         The 100 HA project is in line with the ALP's objective which is to promote observational astronomy in the country. The International Year of Astronomy was put into motion to commemorate Galileo's first use of the telescope  as an astronomical instrument. The IYA is a momentous occasion for observational astronomy, and astronomy, in general, as a field of study.

         For details, please visit the 100 Hours of Astronomy website at     http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/

         IYA 100 Hours of Astronomy Global Star Party Report

         IYA 100 Hours of Astronomy SUN-day at Boardwalk

     

  5. Philippine Solar Index Program

         As the center for astronomical data archiving and requisition in the country, the Astronomical League of the Philippines is responsible for producing the Philippine Sunspot Number (Rp) and the Group Sunspot Number (Rg) with the assistance of astronomers sending sunspot data to the society.

         The relative sunspot number or Wolf Number is computed using the equation Rp = k(10g +s), where: Rp corresponds to the Philippine Sunspot Number; g = number of visible sunspot groups; and s = total number of individual sunspots. The k-coefficient used is unity or 1. The Group Sunspot Number is computed by averaging group counts of individual observers.

         The solar monitoring program is headed by the Chair of the Commission on Solar Activity, under the Solar & Heliosphere Division. Currently, the commission is chaired by Raymund John Ang, and the division director is James Kevin Ty.

         For details, please visit the     Philippine Solar Index Program.

     

  6. Annual Philippine Messier Marathon

         In order to enhance the observational skills of members and foster astronomy awareness to the public, the Astronomical League of the Philippines organizes the Philippine Messier Marathon every March, on the weekend closest to the Vernal Equinox. Certificates are given to those who have earned the highest points among the participants.

         For details, please visit the     3rd Annual Philippine Messier Marathon Open.

     

  7. StarPeace Global Special Project

         StarPeace project is a Global Special project of IYA 2009 which intends to hold common and public star parties near the border lines in cooperation with astronomy groups from different countries with shared land border, in IYA 2009. Both groups in two neighbor countries hold common and public star parties in regions around their borders according to geographical conditions of the region. Although political border has separated people of both countries, applicants of the sky observation look at the sky simultaneously and the sky joins them. Furthermore, scientific speech, astronomical photos exhibition and etc may be established at the same time depending upon activity potential in same border point.

         For details, please visit the     StarPeace Global Special Project - IYA 2009.

 

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