Bruneiastronomy.org

Lunar Impact Alert

2009-06-09T22:08:00-07:00

Space Weather - IMPACT ALERT: Japan's Kaguya will crash into the Moon on Wednesday, June 10th, around 1830 UT. (or 0230 on 11th June Brunei Time). The timing favors observers in Asia and Australia, who might be able to see a flash of light or a plume of debris rising from the Moon's southeastern limb. The spacecraft masses 2,600 kg and it will slam into the lunar surface at 6,000 km/hr. No one knows, however, how bright the flash might be or whether it will be visible even through large telescopes. Images of the crash, if any are captured, will be posted on http://spaceweather.com .

Lights Off Brunei!

2009-03-26T19:20:02-07:00

Borneo Bulletin - Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei will be "switching off' this Saturday night in support of the Earth Hour 2009 campaign.

The Department of Electrical Services is calling on the public to take the opportunity to be part of this global campaign.

Initiated by the World Wide Life Fund for Nature (WWF), this collective participation from people all over the world to save energy for one hour will start from 8.30pm local time tomorrow. In a press statement yesterday, the Department of Electrical Services said that Brunei's energy sources are non-renewable and are highly carbon-based. Towards ensuring that the future generation's needs are not compromised, it is crucial that smart steps are taken to conserve energy.

Comet Lulin Photo from Brunei

2009-02-20T10:41:53-07:00

Above: The Eastern sky on 21 Feb 2009 at 12.30 am from Lubok Pulau, Tutong. Photo reveals comet Lulin is already visible despite of light polluted sky. Canon EOS 450D with Lens Kit 18mm at 30 sec f/4 ISO 1600.

Saturday - This morning, the sky offered an excellent chance for a comet hunting as most of the sky was clear. The search for the comet Lulin began by identifying the star Spica, and hopped to Zaniah of Virgo. A few degree below it, the fuzzy green comet can be seen easily to the naked eyes already despite of lights glowing from small towns.

This week, the Comet (Lulin C/2007 N3) will make a closest approach to the earth on Feb 24. It should be positioned high in the sky at midnight. I urge everyone not to miss this rare opportunity to scan the sky for the comet.

Click more to reveal Comet Lulin

Green Comet Approaches Earth‏

2009-02-05T01:17:12-07:00

NASA Science News for February 4, 2009

A green comet of rare beauty is approaching Earth and may become visible to the naked eye later this month.

Above: Comet Lulin by Jack Newton, Arizona.

UPDATE (06 Feb) - Spaceweather.com - This comet now has a disconnect tail.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm?list819838

Click More for Ephemeris

Eclipse Observation Photos

2009-01-29T16:10:15-07:00

After seven years of waiting for another solar eclipse, the weather in the afternoon of eclipse (26th Jan) was very cloudy. It was a disspointment for many skywatchers at the Yayasan SHHB as Brunei could not witness the phenomenon.

More photos here

26 Jan Partial Solar Eclipse

2009-01-21T04:00:00-07:00

Above: The path of the Moon across the sun during the partial eclipse.

Bandar Seri Begawan – People in Brunei will have the opportunity to witness a rare partial eclipse of the sun on Monday afternoon, January 26.

Animated simulation of the eclipse from Brunei can be viewed here (.mov Apple Quicktime Video format).

The natural phenomenon will begin when the moon made its first contact with the sun at exactly 4:42 p.m. local time.

A solar eclipse is infrequent because it occurs only when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth. During the partial eclipse, people on earth will see the moon blocks a fraction of the sun's light.

The maximum eclipse will come at 5:54 pm where by about 84% of the Sun disk is obscured by the moon. The 1 hour and 48 minutes celestial event will remain viewable until sunset, 6.30 p.m.

Public are advised not to look at the sun directly at any time during the eclipse as it may damage the eyes. A solar eclipse can be viewed safely with proper techniques such as by using a pin-hole camera, a telescope equipped with a solar filter and by solar projection through a binocular.

The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam in liaison with the Survey Department will hold a free public eclipse-watching at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex on January 26, from 4 pm until 6.30 pm.

Another eclipse of the sun will set to occur on July 22 this year.

Please click more for further info of the eclipse.

Press Release - 26 Jan 2009 Partial Solar Eclipse

2009-01-20T01:21:41-07:00

A press release statement of the 26th January 2009 Partial Solar Eclipse by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam can be downloaded here.

Animated simulation of the eclipse from Brunei can be viewed here (.mov Apple Quicktime Video format).

Mesyuarat PABD 16 Jan 2009

2009-01-15T22:40:35-07:00

Semua ahli PABD dan peminat astronomi dipersilakan untuk hadir ke mesyuarat PABD:

Tarikh:          16 Januari 2009 / 19 Muharam 1430
Tempat:        Restoran Jasmine, Serusop
Jam:           7.30 mlm

Agenda:

1. Bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah.

2. Gerhana Separa 2009, Januari 26.

     a. Penerangan Ringkas
     b. Cadangan Tempat Cerapan
     c. Sidang Media
     d. Program/Rancangan

3. Tarikh Mesyuarat Agong.

4. Penetapan Semula Yuran Tahunan & Yuran Pendaftaran.

5. Lain-lain hal yang berbangkit.

Hubungi AJK Eksekutif untuk sebarang makluman.

Check Out Radio Meteors

2008-12-20T21:37:23-07:00

Space Weather - Earth is passing through a stream of debris from comet 8P/Tuttle and this is causing the annual Ursid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the Ursids to peak on Dec. 22nd with 8 to 10 meteors per hour flying out of the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) not far from the north star. The display is usually mild, but outbursts of Ursids occasionally surprise observers with rates many times normal. The last time this happened was in 2006.

Standing outdoors to watch Ursids in December can be a chilling experience. So why not stay inside and listen? Spaceweather.com is broadcasting live audio from the Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the facility--"ping"--there is an echo. Because the Ursid radiant is circumpolar (always up) over the radar, the echoes may be heard at any hour, night or day. Tune in to http://wowzaweb.streamguys.com/~spaceweather/ (there will be anintoduction followed by the sound of static) to try the audio feed, which can support 1000 simultaneous listeners.

Meteor Shower Activity 2009

2008-12-13T11:17:00-07:00

The International Meteor Organization (IMO) has published the Meteor Shower Calendar 2009.

[Source IMO] Details in this Table were correct according to the best information available in May 2008, with maximum dates accurate only for 2009. Except for the Antihelion Source, all other showers are listed in order of their maximum solar longitude. An asterisk ('*') in the 'Shower' column indicates that source may have additional peak times, as noted in the text above. The parenthesized maximum date for the Puppids-Velids indicates a reference date for the radiant only, not necessarily a true maximum. Some showers have ZHRs that vary from year to year. The most recent reliable figure is given here, except for possibly periodic showers. These are either are noted as 'Var' = variable, where there is considerable uncertainty over the likely maximum rates, or with an asterisk to indicate the value is that suggested from theoretical considerations for the current year. For more information, contact the IMO's Visual Commission.