Brilliant Mars

Mars, the Red planet, is anyone’s interest out there from layman up to a NASA scientist.

But looking thru telescope it is not always giving the satisfying image. This could be, which I believe, almost every single astronomer’s thought out there.

Even myself using my best equipment, an 8” Newtonian Reflector, often feel disappointing with the image though I could go up to x600 of magnification. In a way the magnification normally limited to aperture of the scope. In my case the ideal magnification is x400 but I normally limiting to x240. Yet still it is disappointing looking at Mars.

Well that’s used to be the case.

It is because the planet is just half the diameter of Earth and the fact it is far away from Earth.

But the recent orbital path gives everyone from the Earth looking at Mars at the best. I am surprised for the amount details I could see after 4 days of opposition of Mars which happened on April 08, 2014. The North Pole Ice Cap and traces of its subtle differences in terrain truly amazed me.

 

Mars oppostion on April 08, 2014.

The image shows planet's orbit to ease user's understanding

Astronomers saying we could see the magnificent of Mars for another two of its oppositions which the last one would happen on July 27, 2018.

Unfortunately for this year, this excellent view will only last long till end of this April, 2014 . Then we can see the Mars brightness fading in the sky, as the Earth moving away from the Red planet. After this we need to wait for the next opposition which is on May 22, 2016.

-Veerayen 


The video below recorded on April 12th, 2014 midnight from Sg Kob, Kulim, Kedah.

Night Sky Observation - SJKT Ladang Bukit Mertajam

Venue: School area of SJK(T) Ladang Bukit Mertajam, Kulim

Date: March 22/23, 2014
Presenters: Jivagaran and Veerayen
Target Group: Students (140ppl)
School Program : 15

 

This is our 15th school program.  SJKT BMR welcomes us excitedly.  

The program starts at 8.30pm. Unlike the other programs, we begin with outdoor activity as the sky was clear and Orion Nebula was visible. And for this round, we’ve got helped from Parvathi to manage the crowd as well.

Veerayen gathered about 80 pupils in groups and pointing them thru live view of his DSLR. Meanwhile, I gathered some of them who waiting for their turn and brief about night sky. Nearly about an hour later, we decided to go for indoor activity while waiting for rise of Moon, Saturn and Venus.

 
 The indoor activity were put into a short discussion as the children prefer for outdoor. As such, we get our feet back into nearby field projecting Mars. All participants including teachers and parents benefits for the outdoor session.

 Sadly, we couldn’t point onto Jupiter as clouds moved in. By 11.30pm, the pupils heading to bed.

 We starts again our program at 4.30. The sky is promising. Moon, Saturn and Venus are visible. All standard 4 to 6 including some local undergraduates who held a separate motivation program for year 6 took the viewing opportunity. We were asked a lot of astronomical questions but with our experience, all are answered.

I am happy to see two female security guards participating the event. The have a good luck to witness all 4 planets. However, we are sad that other participants missed Venus viewing but bottom line it is a successful event.

 

Report by
Jivagaran

Some of Event Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night Sky Observation - SJKT Ganesar, Serdang

Venue: School area of SJK(T) Ganesar, Serdang

Date: March 21/22, 2014
Presenters: Jivagaran and Veerayen
Target Group: Students (45ppl)
School Program : 14

This is our 14th school program. The program was merely participated by 45 students, teachers and parents. We begin our program at 8pm. Unlike the other program, we see an extraordinary enthuasism among the pupil. Their support was a huge motivation for us and we are delighted to run the show.

Veerayen begins with indoor activity before heading for outdoor.  He projected of the Solar Systems slideshows and as well as telescope functionally briefing. 

Soon after that, the fun begins. We started to show Jupiter to them and also the teachers and some parents. Shortly after that, we let the students take the opportunity again and again for viewing as it is easy to manage a small group pupil of interest. We can hear joy, excitement and happiness surrounding us. That boost us more energy to make the day perfect.

Near midnight, we end the first half session to give a break for the participants before proceed again at 4.30pm.  In between, we had QUIZ session for students and that turnout with positive expectation. On the second half, only teachers and students participates. We showed Mars, Moon, Saturn and Venus before end the session at 7am. The astronomy day ends with colors.

 Although we had a long night, we are indeed very happy with our accomplishment. The sky was merely good and cooperative.  Enthusiasts response was a big success for us. We are also glad to hear that the HM are delighted to begins an astronomy booth in the school. We will certainly help to ensure her dream is achieved. We look forward to do more events for the school in near future.


Report by
Jivagaran

Some of Event Pictures: