Celestial Portraits
Astrophotography Gallery
SITE AND ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT@ 1999-2010 REMUS CHUA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
Celestial Portraits
This site contains a personal collection of astronomy images taken with various astronomical instrument in selected locations around the world.
"Astronomers say the universe is finite, which is a comforting thought for those people who can't remember where they leave things."—Woody Allen
"With every passing hour our solar system comes forty-three thousand miles closer to globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules, and still there are some misfits who continue to insist that there is no such thing as progress."—Ransom K. Ferm.
Mersing Expeditions
Mersing Expeditions
(Click on thumbnails to view larger images.)
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Where else, after all, could one find so magnificent a view of the Omega Centauri globular? Midway in the south and suspended against a sky that is the colour of ink, the cluster is so spectacular through the eyepiece, you almost think you can reach out and touch it!
Where else does the Milky Way tapestries rise over the southern horizons dotted with swaying coconut trees with so vivid a presence that you might mistake it for an ominous storm cloud?
And what more natural setting could welcome amateurs than a frontier so remote and beckoning that makes it a true get-away from the blazen lights of Singapore?
MESP
The Mersing Astronomy Expedition Star Party is hosted in the magnificent Teluk Sari open fields, located about 25km from the heart of Mersing Town.
All over Malaysia and Singapore, the search for darker skies is becoming a subject of great interest and concern for amateur astronomers. In many places when amateurs get together to observe the stars, they compare their skies to those they once saw in the Teluk Sari open fields, which is one of the darkest in Peninsula Malaysia (and certainly when compared to Singapore as well!).
Serious amateur astronomers have come to appreciate the "observer's environment" on the open fields, where bothersome lights and traffic are minimized to reduce interference to imagers. And during the daytime, there are activities to keep you busy:
1) Post-lunch Astronomy Swap Meet.
3) Chalet activities including canoeing, swimming, bench strolls, islet hiking.
4) Evening sky tour for beginners.
5) Two nights of stargazing under pristine dark skies!
6) Chalet facilities include accomodation rooms, convenient bathhouses, central dining room, etc.
REGISTRATION AND RATES
SGD$150 per participant
The rate above will include room/accomodation, most meals, mineral water bottles, and two-way air-conditioned transport.
Registration (Dateline: XXX) can be done online here.
ACCOMMODATION
There are rooms already booked and allocated for all participants for your stay for MESP. The chalet rooms sleep 2-3 persons each and include private bathrooms. There are also central community bathrooms in the chalet premises. Please bring your own toilet rolls as they will not be provided in all bathrooms. Meals are served at the Central Dining Hall, and include the following: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Please remove your footwear prior to entering the Dining Hall. In the event that you are headed for the open fields earlier than dinner-time, please let us know, and arrangements can be made for dinner to be served at the open fields!
Tent Camping
Tent-campers are advised to only set up their tents at the open fields and not in the premises of the chalets. Tent-campers in the open fields are advised to bring your own tents, sleeping bags (if necessary), and relevant camping gear. Electricity is not available in the open fields, so if you have astronomical equipment requiring power, please bring along your own batteries or power supplies.
The location of tents should be at such that we can maximize the amount of telescope space available, should not be blocking the horizon for telescopes, and to limit the possibility of injuries caused by tripping on tent support ropes and spikes. All participants in the open fields are also advised to bring along insect repellant as there will be mosquitoes especially early in the evening and during the pre-dawn hours. Please note that there are no public toilets in the open fields.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Location
Location: Teluk Sari, Mersing (Approximately 25km north of Mersing Town)
Geographic Position of Open Fields: 2º 36' 13.2"N, 103º46' 48.9"E
Climate in May: Nights may be cold, be sure to bring warm clothes.
Meeting Venue
All participants will meet at the XXX. An air-conditioned mini-buses will be there to bring all registered MESP participants in a no-transit journey to the Teluk Sari open fields and the chalets. The same bus will bring everyone back on XXX. We are expected to arrive back in Singapore on Monday evening. It is advisable to have an early lunch before boarding the bus on Saturday.
Things-to-bring List
Warm clothing
Adequate change of attire for entire course of MESP
Poncho/Raincoat (if it rains, let's hope not!)
Swimming gear (if you are keen on swimming or sun-bathing)
Hiking gear
Insect Repellant, sunscreen
Bath towel and personal toiletries, medicines
Tent(s)
Flashlight with red lense or cellophane
Telescope(s) and accessories
Groundsheets
Binoculars
Camera(s)
Snacks for the stargazing nights
Anti-dewing devices and telescope rain covers(for astronomy equipment owners)
Writing Material(s)
Star charts and books
Cellular Network Coverage
There will not be any wireless internet access networks, but you can still use your cell phone in the open fields and chalets if you have auto-roaming.
Stargazing Nights
Do bring your own telescope and/or binoculars. If you are new to astronomy, the expedition offers a great opportunity to see what kind of instruments are available. If you do not own a telescope, feel free to ask to view through other instruments on the observing site, but do take care and not bump onto the instrument(s). A special area is provided for those engaging in astronomy imaging.
Nature Hikes
In addition to all of the astronomy related activities in this expedition, we would recommend the short hike up to the neighboring islet for beautiful panoramic views of the South China Sea and beach scapes. Previously, dolphins were chanced upon, potential sights of the horseshoe crab, and many other sea creatures. Do remember to bring along your camera, and comfortable (light) clothings as this is the opportunity for the photography buff to take some great shots.
REGULATIONS
The organizers of MESP would appreciate if everyone turn all flourescence/sodium lights off after sundown. This provides a unique opportunity for you to become fully dark-adapted and remain so while observing under the dark skies. The following rules will be strictly enforced. We hope everyone will cooperate so that we can guarantee "star party dark" skies to each observer.
Light Use Guidelines
Vehicle headlights, parking lights, tail and brake lights, must remain extinguished. Coleman-type lanterns, campfires, grills, and outdoor lighting are NOT permitted. All flashlights must be equipped with red filters and should be pointed toward the ground at your feet. Red cellophane or fingernail polish is useful. Dim RED lighting for reading starmaps and equipmetn illumination is allowed. Laser pointers and any other form of directional lighting should be used with discretion as these may interfere with the observing/astrophotography by other participants.
In the event you must give off some light, give a yell! A precious photograph could be saved with a little warning. The lighting ban will be in effect when the sky is more than 10% clear. If it is raining, the ban will be lifted. If it is very cloudy with the potential of clearing or there are some holes in the clouds, please keep white lights to a minimum to protect other people's dark adaptation.
Exceptions to the ban will be provided to certain persons in cases of medical emergencies, accidents, etc. If you are going to bring a laptop out to the open fields, please ensure that the display screen is used at a very low intensity and/or away from the main observing area. The screen should be covered with red material or sufficiently shielded so light from them will not disturb neighboring observers.
Alcohols, etc
Boistrous or loud, obnoxious behaviour will not be permitted at MESP, especially during the observing conditions, or late at night. Drunken behaviour is grounds for immediate exclusion from the MESP stargazing hours. No pets are allowed in the open fields.
Although it is not strictly enforced, please refrain from smoking in the open fields after sunset. Mosquito coils should be strategically lit in places sufficiently away from precious telescope optics.