Academic Journal
Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres
Introduction
After a year of observations conducted in the RTU Pasig Campus Roof Deck, I have observed a big number of objects: 113 single, double, and multiple stars, found 15 dim southern constellations, 21 NGC objects, 38 Messier objects, 2 IC objects and a few other miscellaneous objects. Some of them are common place stars which become interesting once an observer discover details about them such as their diameter as compared to our Sun, their luminosity, their distance, and their spectral type. Many of the objects I have observed are galactic and globular clusters. I have viewed three galaxies and two planetary nebulae. I have enjoyed the sight of some emission and reflection nebulae. And all of these objects were observed in a light-polluted, air-polluted, smoke-polluted, and even mosquito-infested site, the RTU Pasig Campus Roof Deck. A hospital is adjacent to the location whose administrators frequently switch on two thousand-watt halogen floodlights which obscured the region of Puppis, Centaurus, Vela and many other very interesting southern constellations. Two brand new street lights are now installed in the adjacent roads and those street lights are tilted upwards. When the halogen floodlights in the nearby Pasig Rainforest are on, the observer would find it impossible to view objects in the north-west. The buildings in Ortigas area brightly shining up to about 10:00 pm. Even the huge lights of the Pasig Sports Complex in Rosario, Pasig City, which is about three kilometers away in a straight line severely affect the viewing from the north-west horizon to about 40 degrees skyward. All in all, the urban astronomer must learn to live by these obstacles.
Dr. Jesus Rodrigo F. Torres
Introduction
After a year of observations conducted in the RTU Pasig Campus Roof Deck, I have observed a big number of objects: 113 single, double, and multiple stars, found 15 dim southern constellations, 21 NGC objects, 38 Messier objects, 2 IC objects and a few other miscellaneous objects. Some of them are common place stars which become interesting once an observer discover details about them such as their diameter as compared to our Sun, their luminosity, their distance, and their spectral type. Many of the objects I have observed are galactic and globular clusters. I have viewed three galaxies and two planetary nebulae. I have enjoyed the sight of some emission and reflection nebulae. And all of these objects were observed in a light-polluted, air-polluted, smoke-polluted, and even mosquito-infested site, the RTU Pasig Campus Roof Deck. A hospital is adjacent to the location whose administrators frequently switch on two thousand-watt halogen floodlights which obscured the region of Puppis, Centaurus, Vela and many other very interesting southern constellations. Two brand new street lights are now installed in the adjacent roads and those street lights are tilted upwards. When the halogen floodlights in the nearby Pasig Rainforest are on, the observer would find it impossible to view objects in the north-west. The buildings in Ortigas area brightly shining up to about 10:00 pm. Even the huge lights of the Pasig Sports Complex in Rosario, Pasig City, which is about three kilometers away in a straight line severely affect the viewing from the north-west horizon to about 40 degrees skyward. All in all, the urban astronomer must learn to live by these obstacles.