Bruneiastronomy.org

Bright Comet Lovejoy

2011-12-23T00:00:00-08:00

Seiichi Yoshida reported Comet Lovejoy (C/2011 W3) as "New Kreutz sungrazer comet discovered on the ground after 41-year blank since Comet C/1970 K1 (White-Ortiz-Bolelli). It approached nearly to the surface of the Sun on Dec. 16. It brightened much more rapidly than expected, and reached -4 mag or brighter at best. It looked amazing in the SOHO spacecraft images. The comet survived the perihelion passage, and it is showing the long tail again. It is appearing in the morning sky again in the Southern Hemisphere. It was observed on the ground as bright as -2.9 mag on Dec. 17 (Alexandre Amorim). It is bright as 1.1 mag still on Dec. 20 (Marco Goiato). In the morning sky, a bright long tail is visible from the horizon towards the sky. It will be observable in night sky in late December. Then it will be getting higher rapidly but fading rapidly."

Above: Picture-perfect Comet Lovejoy (C/2011 W3) hangs in the predawn sky over Mandurah Estuary near Perth, Australia. Photographer Colin Legg captured the comet and its reflection in a 13-second exposure with a 70-mm f/4 lens at ISO 3200. Colin Legg.

Hoping for very clear skies, local observers should look at the cosmic visitor in the morning sky before sunrise this week. The bright comet is currently hanging low in the Southeastern horizon from Brunei.

To guide you for the observation, please download the respective skymap of the position of the comet on the following dates:

24 Dec 2011 | 25 Dec 2011 | 26 Dec 2011 | 27 Dec 2011 | 28 Dec 2011 | 29 Dec 2011 | 30 Dec 2011 | 31 Dec 2011

Full lunar eclipse wows astronomy buffs

2011-12-10T17:00:00-08:00

The Brunei Times - ENTHUSIASTS and curious onlookers alike gathered on the streets of the capital last night to witness a full lunar eclipse.

The focus of the gathering was at the "Mercu Dirgahayu 60" monument where the Brunei Astronomical Society and Survey Department had set up several viewing apparatuses for the public.

In addition to the telescopes, which were computerised to track the moon, a projector was also set up which was linked to a telescope to give the public a minute-by-minute movement of the moon as it was overshadowed by the earth.

Many people started to amass at the monument after 8pm when the eclipse began and it later peaked at 10pm when the moon turned red.

Photos of the event:

More photos here and on PABD Facebook

Total Eclipse of the Moon on Dec 10, 2011

2011-12-02T00:00:00-08:00

The entire eclipse is visible from Brunei Darussalam.

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam and the Survey Department of Brunei will organise a Lunar Eclipse observation for the public:

Date: 10 December 2011 (Saturday)
Time: 7 pm until 1 am
Venue: Waterfront, Bandar Seri Begawan (click here)

Circumstances of the Eclipse (Local Brunei Times)

P1 Moon enters penumbra:	2011 Dec 10 19:34
U1 Moon enters umbra:	2011 Dec 10 20:46
U2 Start of totality:	2011 Dec 10 22:06
Maximum eclipse:	2011 Dec 10 22:32
U3 End of totality:	2011 Dec 10 22:58
U4 Moon leaves umbra:	2011 Dec 11 00:18
P4 Moon leaves penumbra:	2011 Dec 11 01:30

Magnitude and Duration

Umbral magnitude:	1.111
Penumbral magnitude:	2.212
Duration of total phase:	0h 52m 16s
Duration of umbral phase:	3h 32m 54s
Duration of penumbral phase:	5h 59m 53s

Brunei Sight Syawal Cresent 1432

2011-08-30T06:00:00-08:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - The astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) carried out the moon crescent observation at Agok Hill in the afternoon. The weather was very cloudy and the moon crescent was only observed for a few minutes from 18:55 local time through telescopes, binocular and naked eyes.

Above: The 31-hour-old new moon crescent visible through a telescope at 18:55 local time from Bukit Agok, August 30, 2011.

Large Sunspots Notice‎

2011-08-01T00:00:00-08:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - The current sun is increasingly active with larger sunspots and the number increasing. Local solar observers are encourage to look at these sunspots safely with solar filters within this few days (Warning: Do NOT look at the sun directly).

As it can be seen from the photograph below, the sunspots appeared dark but in fact they are not. They were just appear dark by contrast. These regions can reach between 1100 to 2500 degrees Celcius and cooler than the surrounding surface.

These spots were capable of producing X-class solar flares which can effectively damage the man-made communication satellites but also interestingly producing green auroras around the Earth's poles.

Above: Three sunspots of Solar Cycle 24 were captured without any filter at sunset from Seri Kenangan Beach, Tutong on August 01, 2011. (Canon EOS 400D Lens EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Focal Length 135.0mm)

First Sightings of New Moon Crescent 2011-2012 for Brunei

2011-07-30T00:00:00-08:00

The following table shows the dates of possible first sighting of new moon crescent (in Arabic known as hilal) for Brunei Darussalam.

Click Here for a list of the First Lunar Crescent Visibilty in Brunei 2011 - 2012

These dates are colour-coded based on the moon altitude at sunset and a crude prediction of the new moon sighting can be related as follow:

1. Red that indicates the moon altitude which is less than 2°. A very slim chance of visibility due to low altitude.

2. Orange that signifies the moon altitude between 2° and 5.5°. There is a slim chance of crescent visibility. However visibility might be improved with the use of optical aids and excellent atmospheric conditions.

3. Yellow that the moon is at altitude between 5.5° and 7.5°. There is a good chance that the crescent is visible to the naked eyes under excellent atmospheric conditions.

4. Green that shows the moon’s altitude is more than 7.5°. The lunar crescent is positioned reasonably high above the horizon making it easily visible to the naked eye.

Member of International Astronomical Union Meets PABD

2011-07-16T00:00:00-08:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam Astronomical Society had a discussion with Professor Boonrucksar Soonthornthum, Director of National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), yesterday afternoon (16 July 2011).

Among the purposes of the meeting is to promote astronomy education and popularizing astronomy in this country. Boonrucksar who is also the national members of International Astronomy Union (IAU) wishes the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam, and Brunei in general, to establish cooperation with South-East Asian Astronomy Network (SEAAN). This network serves South-East Asian countries to collaborate and strengthen Astronomical research activities in this region.

Above: Professor Boonrucksar Soonthornthum (IAU) with members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam. More Photos.

Briefing on the International Astronomy Union information is also presented by Professor Boonrucksar Soonthornthum. He explained that "Thailand has become a national member of the IAU in 2006 and currently there are 70 countries or national members." Currently, Brunei has not been a candidate to become the member of the IAU.

Above: A report summary on Education and Popularisation of Astronomy Session in 10th Asia Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM). Brunei was reported having no Astronomers. Download a full report here.

Public Skywatching on July 18

2011-07-16T00:00:00-08:00

All welcome. In conjuction to the Islamic Astronomy and Astronomy Education Convention, The Seri Begawan Religious Teaching University College (KUPUSB) will be holding exhibitions and skywatching activities at night, July 18 from 8 pm.

The city skywatching programme is also organised by the Astronomical Unit, Department of Survey and the Astronomical Society of Brunei.

Highlight of the night will be the ringed planet, Saturn, and few other deep sky objects like star clusters and nebulas. In addition to observation, an astronomy talk and presentation is also expected.

The event will be venue at the University Collage’s car park.

Click Read More to see the skymap showing a list of astronomical objects that will be visible on the evening of July 18, 2011.

Date of New Moon Sighting on July 31 2011

2011-07-12T00:30:00-08:00

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Syariah Court of Brunei Darussalam is pleased to announce that the date of sighting the new moon, this year was on 29 Sha'ban 1432H equivalent to July 31 2011.

Places at the moon sighthing are at Bukit Shahbandar, Brunei Muara District, Bukit Agok and Bukit Ambuk, Tutong and Bukit Lumut in the Belait District.

With this, Nisfu Shaban will fall on Saturday, July 16, 2011 equal to 14 Shaban 1432H.

An Easy Way To Determine Kiblat Direction on July 16

2011-07-12T00:00:00-08:00

Above: Facing west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of column during the "istiwa adzam" in Makkah.

Bandar Seri Begawan - On July 16 of each year, at 5:28 pm, the sun will be at Zenith and exactly above the Kaabah, Makkah.

This phenomenon known as "istiwa adzam" can be used by Muslims from almost all over the world as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of Kiblat.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Qiblah from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical by checking with weights tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, for example do not put under the tree or in the house. However, it must be be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:28 pm July 16, the line shadow produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.