Even though lunar eclipse happens more often than a solar eclipse, but still, a lunar eclipse doesn't happen frequently. Because of this, the Judenite’s Astronomical Organization (JAO, the organization that I am currently heading)and the Manila Street Astronomers (MSA) seized this opportunity to look at the total lunar eclipse this upcoming January 31 at the Sky Garden located at SM North Edsa.
The partial eclipse started as early as 6:50 pm, while the total lunar eclipse started at around 8:51 pm and ended at around 10:07 pm, Philippine Standard Time. The maximum eclipse, which is when the moon appears darkest, happened at around 9:30 pm. The eclipse ended at around 12:08 AM.
The MSA and JAO organized a free telescope viewing for the public to look at the moon during the total lunar eclipse. Overall, there were more than 1,000 people present at the event. Aside from a free telescope viewing, bands were present to give entertainment to the people, by singing songs and playing music.
Truly, this is one of those nights I, and the Filipino community, will never forget to witness the once in a lifetime opportunity to view a supermoon, and blue and blood moon all at one time.
On behalf of JAO and MSA, from the bottom of my heart, I want to sincerely express my gratitude to all of the people present at our event. Even though there is limited number of telescopes present, but still, you guys patiently waited for your turn to look at the telescope. With this, I want to say thank you.
Pictures
STATE OF THE MOON. Here are some pictures of the moon during the supermoon, blue, and blood moon seen on the eclipse of January 31, 2018.
STATE OF THE PEOPLE. Here are some photos of the people present at our event. Some members of JAO can also be seen in the photos.
BANNER. The banner used for our project, together with SM and Manila Street Astronomers.
STATE OF THE PEOPLE. Here are some photos of the people present at our event. Some members of JAO can also be seen in the photos.
HELLO TO THE 1000+ PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES!!! And how many exactly are the number of participants present at the event? Not much, I mean at around 1000 people!!!
GROUPIE. Thank you, from the JAO to yours.
***For my IB CAS Requirements:
I have to be honest, but conducting a free telescope viewing during the lunar eclipse for my members at JAO is not one of the activities that I have planned for them. After all of the drama that had risen from our stargazing activity, I made a promise to myself that I will never go through all of the hassles just to give my members what they want, to the extent that I am the one who is having a hard time. However, the information that there will be a lunar eclipse at January 31, 2018, has spread too much in the Filipino community that it has been impossible for me to just keep this news from reaching them. Because of this, a lot of my members have been making incessant requests for me to conduct a free telescope viewing for them to view the lunar eclipse.
Eventually, I succumbed to their requests because they're my friends, and I can never tolerate my friends. As much as I hate to say this but I really do love all of my friends to the point that I am willing to give them what they want even though I am the one who has to work. At first, I am a bit hesitant to push through with this event with JAO members because of what happened during the stargazing activity. I mean, if I want to view the lunar eclipse, I can just easily view it since I am an MSA member myself. However, my members are not, so I have to create an event for them to let them view the eclipse. However, this time, I learned how to be more careful, and thank God nothing happened anything bad this time. Everything went smoothly according to plan.
It's an open secret in the astronomical community that I am most interested learning more about theoretical astronomy than observational astronomy. Because of this, up to this day, I never had the chance and interest on how to properly man a telescope. However, in this CAS project, we have to set up a lot of telescopes for the public's free telescope viewing. Because of this, I have to learn how to use telescopes for me to be with us in the event. I had extensive training with my mentor Norman Marigza in order to ensure that I am knowledgeable already on how to use a telescope and manipulate it. Not only does this ends here, I have to learn how to use the telescope while juggling up my academics from school. This is one the hardships that I was able to encounter with this event. It is the fact that in order to ensure that this event will be successful, I have to learn how to use a telescope from scratch. In order for me to learn how to use a telescope, it is not enough that I am reading telescope manuals because I need to have the actual telescope (LO1, LO2, LO4, and LO5; knowledgeable, balance, and thinker). I organized this event together with the Manila Street Astronomers and SM (LO3, and communicator). This event is celebrated not only all throughout the Philippines, but also in the entire world. By organizing this lunar eclipse viewing event, I was able to show international mindedness by uniting the Philippines to the other activities in other parts of the globe (LO5). I am going to say this, again and again, the night sky doesn't belong to a group of people only, it is for the entire humanity.
Overall, even though I had a lot of hardships organizing this event for JAO. I am grateful and happy all throughout that I was able to bring the splendor of the night sky closer to the Filipino community once again.
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