Astronomers gird for '100 HA'

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines — Astronomers have referred to it as “sidewalk astronomy” and it’s hitting streets next month.

Astronomers across the country will set up their powerful telescopes on sidewalks and allow the public to use them to observe the night sky as part of the country’s commitment to participate in the worldwide “100 hours of astronomy” (100 HA) on April 2-5. 

In an interview with The STAR, Dr. Cynthia Celebre, chief of the Space Science and Astronomy Section of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said at least 13 astronomical societies nationwide are participating in the project launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Celebre said 147 countries are taking part in the 100 HA, with the Philippines’ participation based on Proclamation No. 1630 signed by President Arroyo on Sept. 29 last year.

In the proclamation, the President expressed the Philippines’ commitment to the observation of the International Year of Astronomy this year and the holding of the 100 HA on April 2-5.

Dr. Armando Lee, national organizer of “sidewalk astronomers” for the 100 HA, said the project will commemorate the 400 years of Galileo’s use of the telescope in astronomy.

He said the event will be the first ever to mark Galileo as “the first real astromoner” and his use of the telescope in astronomy.

“We will train our telescopes on Jupiter and the moon whose craters could be visible as we expect clear skies, especially in the Philippines, during the span of the 100 HA,” Lee said.

Venus, however, is expected to be too far in the horizon by then, he said.

Celebre said one of the key goals of 100 HA is to have as many people as possible to look through a telescope as Galileo did for the first time 400 years ago.

Thus, she said 10-inch Galileo telescopes from Japan are now available in the market and her office could provide information on where they could be bought, at about $10 each.

Celebre said that while the objective of the 100 HA is to commemorate Galileo, it is also meant to arouse interest of the public, especially the youth, in astronomy.

It could also be a chance for those interested in UFOs or unidentified flying objects to scour the skies for one, she added.

“We really should be open-minded and be scientific in our approach to UFOs,” she said, noting that her office has a unit which specializes in UFO studies.

Celebre said that in Manila, two powerful telescopes from PAGASA will made accessible to the public at the Mall of Asia and Sulaiman Park in Malate.

Telescopes for public use will also be available at the Rizal Technological Institute in Mandaluyong City, the only school in the country offering a course combining engineering and astronomy, she said.

The Astronomers’ League of the Philippines and other astronomical societies will also sponsor “sidewalk astronomy” in the cities of Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Legaspi.

Lee said that while Venus is expected to be too far on the horizon during the span of the 100 HA, telescopes could reveal Saturn with its rings cutting across the middle, or the craters of the moon.