Stargazing at the park

The air was warm and humid. The temperature reached its maximum at 37 degrees and the breeze coming from the sea was salty. Any of these factors were enough to destroy the sensitive optics of telescopes.

But that did not prevent the members of the Philippine Astronomical Society (PAS) from setting up their telescopes at the Luneta Boardwalk right at the back of the Quirino Grandstand last May 15.

The event was actually the second at the boardwalk. The first was last May 5 when promenaders observed the planets Jupiter and Mercury as well as the massing of Venus, Saturn and Mars.

Last May 15 was the alignment of the five planets. But Mercury was not seen at all because it was blinded by the haze coming from the setting Sun.

The spectacular alignment of the five planets will never be seen again until an hour before sunrise of July 2060.

Last Wednesday’s skywatchers were almost double than on May 5. First to arrive were students and teachers from Statefields School of Molino, Cavite, headed by their science coordinator, Jayvie Herrera.

Aside from the parade of the planets, skywatchers had the chance to see the crescent moon in between Jupiter and Venus. They also witnessed the bigger part of the moon’s surface illuminated by the light of the Sun reflected by the Earth called "earthshine."

The PAS brought at least eight different telescopes aimed at different celestial objects. Far East Broadcasting Corp. broadcast the event live over dzAS 702 kHz from 4 to 6 p.m.

On May 26, another astronomical event is going to happen – a penumbral lunar eclipse. The full moon will rise at 6:13 p.m. At about 6:17 p.m. when the moon is above the horizon, the eclipse will commence. At this time the lighter shadow of the Earth or penumbra will start to enter the moon’s limb. The eclipse will reach its maximum when the penumbra covers more than half of the moon’s surface at about 8 p.m.

At this time, moonwatchers will notice a very subtle change of color on its surface – from silvery white to copper reddish color. The eclipse ends at about 9:50 p.m.

PAS members, in cooperation with the Philippine Tourism Authority, will again be at the Luneta Boardwalk on May 26, starting 4 p.m., to offer the public free lectures on astronomy and free use of telescopes.

Aside from the observation of the moon, everybody will again have the chance to view Jupiter and the four Galilean moons: Callisto, Europa, Io, and Ganymede. Everybody is invited.

(The author is a member of the Philippine Astronomical Society. He can be reached at 0919-8558080. The PAS website is at http://www.geocities.com/philastrosoc.)