The first day of spring

One of my favorite place to visit is Borobudur, i never bored to visit & the last vernal equinox, i have an opportunity to return there. I will not write much about Borobudur, i have written much about it on my previous post; nonetheless, the trip might be an escape way from my tedious routinity, a pilgrimage perhaps. Been occupied, even haven’t time to write, even one single post recently. Now i can start over. Enjoy the pictures.

Well, the IYA 2009 already closed a month ago, with all the memories left behind. The IYA 2009 had played important role to expose astronomy to wider general public through various activities, and that is a good thing, as the repercussion felt this year, there are more people getting excite for astronomy activities. Professional, amateur, try to find another excitement in astronomy, even after the IYA closed, but not the excitement.

So what about this 2010? There are various path of journey to select. As i notice, there were numerous community-based club in several cities in Indonesia, established last year. Those are from the public initiative, thanks to the spirit of IYA 2009.

Majalah Astronomi (Astronomy Magazine), now one year old. The only printed magazine that cater various information about astronomy in Indonesian language, which published for the first time on the opening of IYA 2009, and already ran for one year. (Check your nearest book store for the next edition!)

As for professional, the SEAAN (South East Asian Astronomy Network) is shaping the form, better & better, by the next 2nd meeting in Manila, Philippines, and the spin-off, SEAYAC (South East Asian Young Astronomers Collaboration), will form new face of astronomy in the SEA region, by producing the next generation of astronomers.

The wind of change also blew in Bosscha observatory, the previous director of Bosscha Observatory, Dr. Taufiq Hidayat (SPoC of IYA 2009 in Indonesia), is replaced by Dr. Hakim L. Malasan (member of Developing Astronomy Globally Task Group), as a regular changing in every two years period of service. It should be exciting to see the endeavor of professional astronomy in Indonesia under new captain on the helm, for the next two years.

And the question will be, what will the astronomy look like in the future, in the country, and in the region? One can actively involved in a process toward a progress, like active in research, teaching, communicating, collaboration, educating astronomy, etc; but still, there is a need for a ‘critical mass’, until things will shape the form; and this new form might be as surprising as the new finding in the universe, that always surprises us during our odyssey in the universe.

Last but not least, i include my previous travel in December 2009, who knows, perhaps somebody will need it.

When will the IYA 2009 closed? If one consider the IYA 2009 is merely a celebration, there should be a closing date. But, what is IYA 2009 anyway? Celebration of 400 years of Telescope? 5000 years of astronomy? Indeed, the IYA 2009 is a commemoration of humanities in their endeavor through the universe, space & time.

For myself, the celebration was closed during my last ‘winter solstice expedition’, simply, because the ‘time’ has particular information in astronomy. This expedition was actually my day off, after a long year of working. Time to took off from the cities, and return to rural life. Together with my good friends, i visit the Borobudur during winter equinox. Nothing important, & got nothing to do with astronomy, Borobudur is always an exotic place to visit, besides, affordable.

During the expedition, indeed we enjoy assortments of various enjoyment, from culinary to the village exploration. Afterall, it’s a long holiday for me. Nonetheless, during the break, we also discuss about astronomy in our own perspective. (I am still writing the travelogue).

In short, what we have learnt can be summarized here:

Visiting Bosscha observatory

IYA 2009 is only a month away, and before officially closed, my office organized activities, in the participation of this IYA 2009. The name of the activity is Festival Sains Antariksa 2009 (Space Science Festival). There were various activities, as usual, like years before, for young to high-school students. But unlike the previous years, for this year, there was a national competition for space science writing, with various themes: space weather, space debris, human and the universe, and about what the students expect from the space study in the school. As grand prizes, we provide telescopes for the winners.

There were about 50 students from around the provinces in Indonesia that follow this competition, and only 5 selected, one from Jakarta, two from Bandung, and two from Palembang (South Sumatra province). The festival was the final day, in which the finalist should presenting their writing. And after an exciting finale, the winner was selected. But the more important thing is, not about the competition, but to give the students idea about, the excitement to study our universe.

All the winners

Besides, after the competition, the excitement must not be ended, instead the adventure just started, most of them never use telescope before; so, among the winners, they agreed to make a club of astronomy in their home town, and make their own network of astronomy club.

Here are the winners & the tittles:

#1
Name: Adli Rahmat Renhoran
School: SMAN 54, Jakarta
Title: Kisah dari Secerecah Cahaya Mercusuar di Tengah Lautan Malam yang Gelap [tr: The Tale from the Spark of Lighthouse in the Middle of Dark Night Sky].

#2
Name: M. Ali Setia Pratama, Aisyah Fatriani, Satria Marrantiza
School: SMA Plus Negeri 17, Palembang
Title: Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Minat Pelajar Dalam Pembelajaran Berbasis Antariksa (Studi Kasus Implementasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Antariksa di Kota Palembang) [tr: Level of Knowledge and interest of Students in the Study on the Space Science]

#3
Name: Fina Herlina Sari, Faradhina Astri Nabilla, Muthia Sativa Nuliati
School: SMAN Sumsel, Palembang
Title: Pentingnya Materi Keantariksaan Pada Kurikulum SMA [tr: The Importance of Space Science in the High School Curricullum]

#4
Name:  Aan Andrian, Nurcholis Ridha, Anshari Jiwa
School: SMAN 1 Cisarua, Bandung
Title: Sampah Antariksa, Sampah Kita Semua [tr: Space Garbage, Our Garbage]

#5
Name: Efa Khafifa Hidayat, Diva Teguh Respati
School: SMAN 13, Bandung
Title Di Balik Indahnya Pelita Fajar (Menguak Misteri Badai Matahari yang Mengancam) [tr: Behind the Beauty of Dawn Lantern (Revealing the mistery of threatening Solar Storm)].

Candi Cangkuang

Two days ago, during the Eid al-Adha, the Muslim “Festival of Sacrifice”, i went to Candi Cangkuang, the only candi (ancient temple) that well preserved in West Java Province. This candi lies near the Garut town, about 50 km from Bandung. To reach the location, visitors should follow the main-road between Bandung-Garut, once reach the district of Leles, in the alun-alun (square) of district, can continue, either by car or delman (horsecar) to the site.

Rediscovered in 1966, after buried for centuries, the experts conclude that this candi is the evidence of the existence of Hinduism in the area, built in the 8th century, long before Islam arrived. The name Cangkuang itself derived from the kind of plant (Pandanus Furcatus), also as the name of the village surrounding the site.

As in Hinduism tradition, this candi represents the Holly Mount Meru, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by mountains; so does Candi Cangkuang reside in the middle of the lake, surrounded by mountain Haruman (north-east), Pasir Kadaleman (south-east), Pasir Gadung (south), Guntur (south-west), Malang (west), Mandalawangi (west) & Kaledong (east). To reach the destination, one should take a raft to cross the lake.

Candi Cangkuang

Riding the Delman

Fisherman

The kids enjoy the raft

The raft of a fisherman

Teratai on the lake

Along the way, we will see teratai (nymphaea) on the lake. Candi Cangkuang is only small in size (compared to Prambanan, which also a Hindu temple), around 4 x 4 x 10 meters. With only one ‘door’ facing north, and one statue of Shiva inside.

Shiva

Eventhough today the people in the area are Muslim in religion, but the preservation of this Hindu temple, makes this place worth a visit, either as spiritual pilgrim, or cultural journey, or simply natural visitation.

Candi Cangkuang from afar

Hala Na Godang story

Some times ago, on the 6th of November, i went to the Pecha-Kucha Night #7 in Bandung, in Gedung Merdeka, Asian African Conference Museum. Such an interesting activity, to share idea in a 20×20 format (20 slides x 20 seconds/slide) for each presentation. But, maybe what makes this Pecha-Kucha interesting (at least for me), because of there were subjects of astronomy presented in the Pecha-Kucha. My friends gave presentation about our work in ‘archaeo-astronomy’ (Astronomy & Borobudur) by Irma Hariawang & ‘etno-astronomy’ (star-lore of Indonesia) by Yatny Yulianty.

Well, i hope this would enlight general public, that astronomy is not only about ’space above & beyond’, but also part of the culture, heritage & the way we are. Afterall, this is IYA 2009, what else that we expect from astronomy, but to enrich our life in the universe?

The crowd inside

Astronomers are studying the feasibility of constructing two observatories in the central and eastern parts of Indonesia, where the sky is still relatively free from light pollution.

Hakim Luthfi Malasan, an astronomer from the Bosscha Observatory near Bandung, told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that the two planned observatories could provide a number of direct benefits to society, such as the ability to sight the thin crescent of the new moon that determines the start of Ramadan

This would help end the annual debate between the country’s two largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, in determining the beginning and the end of the fasting month.

Nahdlatul Ulama uses visual computations, or hilal , to determine the dates, while Muhammadiyah uses hisab , or astronomical computations.

Emmanuel Sungging Mumpuni, a space and solar system researcher from the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (Lapan) agreed that would be one of the benefits gained from constructing new observatories.

“[The observatories] would also be part of space weather studies and would acquaint people in other parts of Indonesia with astronomy,” Emmanuel said.

Hakim, who is also a lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), said “it could also widen the observing window for the study of celestial objects since we have three time zones in our country.”

He said Indonesia currently only had one observatory, Bosscha in Lembang, West Java, and that the blinding lights from homes, businesses and streets in Bandung and its surroundings had increasingly interfered with telescopic observations.

“For the past five years we have been studying the feasibility of building an observatory in the central part of Indonesia,” Hakim said, adding that astronomers from ITB were looking at two potential sites, on the eastern foot of Mount Rinjani in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, and on Mount Timau, near Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara.

He said both locations had equally good sky conditions. He added, however, that after consultations with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), a possible problem with the Mount Timau site had been discovered: it is seasonally affected by dessert dust from the southwestern part of Australia, carried by subtropical storms.

Hakim said a comprehensive study would be undertaken to determine the best location for a future observatory. “The study would require on-site observations for about a year, including meteorological, geological and accessibility studies for both locations,” he said.

He added that any new observatory would require energy, transportation and telecommunication infrastructure support.

Emmanuel said Lapan had also been studying the feasibility of constructing an observatory on Biak Island, Papua.

“What we have learned so far is that the atmosphere there is in good condition and not as polluted as it is in Java. The atmospheric contents such as steam are quite good, however, this is not yet conclusive as we are still conducting studies,” he said.

The observatory would be employed to observe the sun using a hydrogen alpha telescope equipped with an optical filter to capture light in the hydrogen alpha wavelength, he said

“The most important solar dynamics are observed within that wavelength. We could do an analysis to predict if there would be any negative effects on satellite or communications systems,” Emmanuel said, adding that such studies could be used to anticipate an event such as the 1989 power blackout in Quebec, Canada, caused by solar flares.

Neither scientist could provide information regarding the budget that would be needed to finance the observatories.

“It would depend on the final results of the feasibility study,” Emmanuel said.

Hakim said that ITB astronomers were hopeful the project could start within the next three years, adding that they had talked with the State Ministry for Research and Technology and the Ministry of National Education about the proposal.

“We hope to get the full support of both ministries,” he said.

(An interview with The Jakarta Globe).

Conference of The Indonesia Astronomy & Astrophysics

Finally, the conference of astronomy in Indonesia has ended, left so much memories about the current activities of astronomy in Indonesia. There were various astronomy-goers flocked, from amateur to professional, from high-school students to researchers, from educator to communicator; surely the biggest event for astronomers in Indonesia, where they share their works, discuss the possibilities for collaboration, and to make new friends from various background. Not only attract the local, but this event also attract the colleagues from the neighbour country (Malaysia). Well, there is no border in astronomy.

Prof. Rutten gave general talk on Solar Physics

The event culminated by the launching of the new solar telescopes in Bosscha Observatory, new eyes to the sky! For this occasion, Prof. Rob Rutten (Sterrekundig Institut Utrech, Institutt for Teoretisk Astrofisikk Oslo & The Dutch Open Telescope) gave general lecture about current progress in Solar Physics in the world.

All in all, things might be exciting, but in my own opinion, the whole process should wait for a ‘critical mass’, should astronomy evolve into a new phase of acceptance by much more people in my country, nevertheless, it has a profound repercussion. As long as they have fun in astronomy, they will find their way.

Posters about various activities

What the universe say

Tintin - Shooting Star

This panel from the comic Tintin (The Shooting Star), for me, is the primary source of astronomy, at least in my childhood. Okey, i will not discuss about comicology in this post, perhaps later. Instead from what i have learnt, the phenomenon of shooting stars could invoke stories, excitement, awe inspiring wonder, even indepth science exploration. Choose your own path for wondering the universe.

sometimes, the occurence can be predicted, sometimes, things just happenned.

Astrocamp

Last weekend, i went to the camp with the group of HAAJ (Jakarta Amateur Astronomy Club). For the HAAJ, they made the trip as one of their agenda for celebrating the 25th of HAAJ, as well as for the World Space Week. While for me, it was a great opportunity to escape from the tediousness of the city, and away from the city of light.