The Philippine Astronomical Society will be hosting a Deep-Sky Observing Marathon on March 9-10, 2013, at Big Handy’s Grounds in Tanay, Rizal. Interested participants may kindly confirm their attendance with PAS Observation Chairperson Von Delelis (Contact: 09228320401). The Philippine Astronomical Society holds an annual stargazing session to take advantage of cloudless summer nights during months of March and April each year.
Tag Archive: Astronomy
The Philippine Messier Marathon Open is an annual star party conducted under the dark clear skies of Caliraya, Laguna, where astronomy-enthusiasts in the country gather to observe and meet fellow enthusiasts. The highlight of the event is the messier marathon — astro-enthusiasts attempt to observe and identify all the 110 m-objects in just one night. This year, the first wave of the event (there will be a series of stargazing events) will be on March 9, 2013, at Eco Saddle Resort in Caliraya, Laguna. Interested parties are encouraged to confirm their attendance in the Philippine Messier Marathon 2013‘s event page.

For inquiries, contact Peter Tubalinal, the Philippine Messier Marathon 2013 Chair/Organizer at 09479785001. Photo Credit: Peter Tubalinal
This event hosted by the Astronomical League of the Philippines is by far the largest star party and astro-gathering in the Philippines.
Related link: Philippine Messier Marathon 2012
For previous observations, click here.
To receive timely updates on upcoming astronomical events/observations, click here.
For tutorials on how to get started with astrophotography, click here.
© Anthony Urbano (Manila, Philippines)
| Circumstances:UP College of Science Amphitheater
14° 38′ 59.1″ N, 121° 04′ 18.8″ E (14.64975° N, 121.07189° E) 06:12:46 First Contact 06:30:44 Second Contact 09:31:22 Maximum Transit 12:30:16 Third Contact 12:47:54 Fourth Contact |
|
| 05:42:46 | First contact in 30 minutes, check equipment and perform systems check |
| 06:02:46 | First contact in 10 minutes, confirm that the target is in the center of the field |
| 06:07:46 | First contact in 5 minutes, get ready to record |
| 06:10:46 | First contact in 2 minutes, start recording |
| 06:12:36 | First contact in 10 seconds on my mark (countdown: 7,6,5,4,3,2,1) |
| 06:12:46 | (key time, shout “mark!”; visual observer and video recorder please confirm) |
| 06:14:46 | 2 minutes after first contact, stop recording |
| (rest: ~5 minutes) | |
| 06:20:44 | Second contact in 10 minutes, confirm that the target is in the center of the field |
| 06:25:44 | Second contact in 5 minutes, get ready to record |
| 06:28:44 | Second contact in 2 minutes, start recording |
| 06:30:34 | Second contact in 10 seconds on my mark (countdown: 7,6,5,4,3,2,1) |
| 06:30:44 | (key time, shout “mark!”; visual observer and video recorder please confirm) |
| 06:32:44 | 2 minutes after second contact, stop recording |
| (public viewing/imaging: ~4 hours 28 minutes, Transit Maximum at 09:31:22) | |
| 12:00:16 | Third contact in 30 minutes, check equipment and perform systems check |
| 12:20:16 | Third contact in 10 minutes, confirm that the target is in the center of the field |
| 12:25:16 | Third contact in 5 minutes, get ready to record |
| 12:28:16 | Third contact in 2 minutes, start recording |
| 12:30:06 | Third contact in 10 seconds on my mark (countdown: 7,6,5,4,3,2,1) |
| 12:30:16 | (key time, shout “mark!”; visual observer and video recorder please confirm) |
| 12:32:16 | 2 minutes after third contact, stop recording |
| (rest: ~5 minutes) | |
| 12:37:54 | Fourth contact in 10 minutes, confirm that the target is in the center of the field |
| 12:42:54 | Fourth contact in 5 minutes, get ready to record |
| 12:45:54 | Fourth contact in 2 minutes, start recording |
| 12:47:44 | Fourth contact in 10 seconds on my mark (countdown: 7,6,5,4,3,2,1) |
| 12:47:54 | (key time, shout “mark!”; visual observer and video recorder please confirm) |
| 12:49:54 | 2 minutes after Fourth contact, stop recording |
| (end of observation) | |
| Copyright 2012 by Anthony Urbano | |

The College of Science Amphitheater in UP Diliman with my telescope in the foreground :) See you there!
Where will you be observing tomorrow’s Venus Transit? Join the largest collaborative observation in the country at the College of Science Amphitheater, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City!
Here are the circumstances computed for the coordinates of our observation site:
Circumstances for the UP College of Science Amphitheater
courtesy of Mr. Bamm Gabriana*14° 38′ 59.1″ N, 121° 04′ 18.8″ E (14.64975° N, 121.07189° E)
05:25:32 Sunrise, Azimuth 66°
05:27:25 Venus Rises
06:12:46 1st Contact, PA 041°
06:30:44 2nd Contact, PA 039°
09:31:22 Max Transit, PA 346°
12:30:16 3rd Contact, PA 293°
12:47:54 4th Contact, PA 291°*Bamm has a passion for astronomical computation and prediction. He currently teaches astronomy at the Rizal Technological University
As of the moment, there are more than 500 confirmed attendees. This collaborative event is by far the largest public viewing and observation ever organized in the Philippines! Hope to see you there! :)
Clear skies!
A collaboration of RTU Astrosoc, UP Astrosoc, and UPLB Astrosoc in partnership with the Australian embassy, Manila, and DOST-PAGASA.
For more information, please visit the event page.







