BigBang! The 2009 UP Astrosoc Quiz Show 

UP Astrosoc, in line with its objectives of promoting astronomy in education presents BIGBANG! an inter high-school astronomy quiz. Teams of two students and one coach will test their knowledge of astronomy and space science against each other. BIGBANG! is open to all Metro Manila High Schools.

BIGBANG! 2009 will be held on February 21, 2009 at the University of the Philippines Diliman – National Institute of Science and Mathematics Education (UP-NISMED) Auditorium from 8-12am then 1-4pm. BIGBANG Prizes include certificates, medals, and cash for the winners as well as the honor of being the champions of BIGBANG! 2009. For further inquiries about BIGBANG! 2009 and inquiries about joining, contact the following UP Astrosoc members:

Ritzelle Adriano - 09154822045, ritzadriano@yahoo.com

Kath Rosario - 09173846974,kathleenrosario_16@yahoo.com

Download Bigbang! 2009 Primer - Contains the Coverage, Rules and Mechanics of BigBang! 2009
Download Application Form - Deadline of submission has been moved to February 18, 2009

 * Walk-ins will not be accepted. 

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BigBang! The 2008 UP Astrosoc Quiz Show Winners

UP Astrosoc holds Applicant's Orientation During Geminids Meteor Shower

 Last December 14, 2006 from 6.00 pm to 12MN, UP Astrosoc's Resource Cluster held the orientation for the incoming applicants for the second semester. It was held at the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory Sundeck during the height of the 2006 Geminids Meteor Shower. 

 The Resource Cluster and ObSin Cluster made the decision to hold the orientation during the meteor shower to give the potential applicants a taste of the UP Astrosoc life. Around 40 meteors were seen during the 6 hour observation period. 

 Besides hosting the meteor show, UP Astrosoc members also taught the applicants basic stargazing techniques, teaching them the locations of constellations and named stars. The applicants were also given a taste of binocular astronomy as UP Astrosoc members showed them visible M objects such as M42 and M31 using the org's 7x50 binoculars.

 Aside from applicants, UP Astrosoc also entertained several non UP students who came to PAGASA on news of the meteor shower. These included people from grade one student of UPIS all the way to a high school english teacher.

On the net: IMO Geminids 2006 page

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Edwin Aguirre and Imelda Joson donate Skywatch 2007 to UP Astrosoc

From Left to Right: UP Astrosoc Members Carmencita Lumban, Paulo Adaoag, April Muyuela and Chien Palafox and Sky and Telescope Editors Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre.

Sky and Telescope Editor Edwin Aguirre and former Sky and Telescope Photo Editor Imelda Joson donated autographed copies of Skywatch 2007 and Sky and Telescope December 2006 to UP Astrosoc. This was after their lecture last November 19, 2006 at the Manila Planetarium which was hosted by the Astronomical League of the Philippines.

Imelda Joson gave an overview on the history of astronomical imaging from daguerrotypes to CCD technology. Edwin Aguirre then gave an insight about working for an astronomy magazine with his talk entitled "Behind the Scenes at Sky and Telescope". Various people attended the event from astronomy enthusiasts to PAGASA officials.

Links: Edwin Aguirre on SkyTonight, Imelda Joson on Meade 4M, Astronomical League of the Philippines

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UP Astrosoc Conducts Early Morning Observation of the 2006 Mercury Transit

Tiny Mercury crosses the sun's disk in this projected view. Sunspot 923 is also visible. On the right is a picture of the setup used with UP NISMED's 8inch refractor.

Early on the morning of November 9, UP Astrosoc members trooped to UP NISMED for an observation of the Mercury Transit. Since the third and fourth contacts occur at 8:08 and 8:10 AM Manila time respectively, UP Astrosoc members had to be rapid in their preparation and observation as there was only a limited time to observe the transit. Sir Jun Obille of UP NISMED's Earth Science department was on hand to assist the UP Astrosoc members.

The organization used UP NISMED's 8 inch refracting telescope mounted on their rooftop dome observatory. Since neither UP Astrosoc nor UP NISMED had any appropriate filters for a telescope of that size, projection onto a screeen was used as the method for viewing the transit. This method was successful in showing Mercury crossing the sun's disk as well as the prominent sunspot 923.

The activity was attended by UP Astrosoc Over-All Coordinator Anthony Urbano, Observation and Instrumentation Head Paulo Adaoag, Genevieve Landong, and Carmencita Lumban.

Links:UP NISMED

Archive: The UP Astrosoc News Blog