JIVRAYS Skyevent: October 2013

Venue: School Field of SJK(T) Perai

Date: October 11&12, 2013
Facilitator: Veerayen, Jivagaran, Vijay
Target Group: Students (100ppl) , Teachers + Parents (30ppl)
School Program : 9

Successfully Viewed:
October 11 (7.45pm-10.30pm)
- Saturn at Magnification x50
- Venus at Magnification x50
- First Quarter Moon at Magnification x50

October 12 (4am-6:30am)
- Jupiter and 4 moons at Magnification x80
- Orion Nebula at Magnification x80
- Pleaides/Seven Sisters at Magification x7 (using Binocular 7x50)
- Mars and it North Pole Ice Cap thru Canon 550d's live view at scope's focal length of 2000mm and also magnified 10times further thru camera
- Myself and few ppl saw a nice bright Meteor/shooting star J

We are invited to SJK(T) Perai today. This is our 9th school program. I reached at school at 7.10pm and followed by Jiva at 7.20pm. Seeing very clear sky I was quickly setup the scope. As Venus and Moon were visible in the evening, we decided for outdoor activities only. However, it wasn't an easy task. 100 students together with teachers and parents need to benefit from the program.

Before we wanted to start showing Venus, I was looking for Saturn's visibility at western sky though I knew it could be very low due its setting time which was at 8.33pm on that day. Surprisingly Saturn was visible. Wasting no time, we quickly pointed it for teachers and students but not everyone had the chance. The Ring Planet goes low against time. While I was setting the scope for Venus, Jiva made quick brief about telescope function. 15minutes later, we showed Venus and Moon. At this time parents were participated too.

It was really looked like a Star Party. Very huge group and everyone was eargerly waiting for their chances. Luckily Vijay was there to help us coordinating. Couple of hours later, we are done. And now, the school continue for other activities.

We continued the program at 4 am the next morning. Again, it was challenging. We initially struggled with the weather. It wasn't looked well until 4.45am. It was cloudy but luck at our site. We showed Jupiter, Mars and Orion Nebula thru scope. The Seven Sisters/Pleiades also was clearly visible. Teachers and students viewed it thru binocluar . Students are so excited . They don't mind to take long queue for their turn.

We had surprise visit by Mr. Mohan, friend of mine. He joined with his family. We glad to see them getting chances to view those celestial objects for first ever time.

Bottom-line, this was a successful event ! Students benefir utmost from the program.

At last but not the least certainly, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to head master, Mdm. Jacinta. She is very energetic women with higher visions for students. She initiating an idea to start up Astronomy Society at her school. We were very delighted hearing that. Not an easy task to bring up a very new society and challenging part is maintaining it in the long run. But if SJK(T) Perai could make it, it would be a role model to rest of the schools. We hope for their success.

report by
Veerayen M.

Some of event pictures:

First observation session, 7.45pm-10.30pm :-