The modern view of cosmic ray study can be seen because of important contribution from experiment of Victor Hess in 1912, using balloon to study the atmosphere and its relation to the electricity. The work of Hess inspires Professor Dr. Jacob Clay from TU Delft, the Netherland; who on 1920 assigned to be a professor in a new Physics Laboratory of Technische Hoogeschool, Bandung, (now Institut Teknologi Bandung) Indonesia. Much of the history of his work in Indonesia already written in here.

Jacob Clay with the balloon experiment in Bandung, 1933

In his earlier tenure for the physics laboratory of Technische Hoogeschool, Clay try to study the ionosphere by sending balloons as high as 30 kms as the one important activity for his lab in Bandung. With his careful and attentive measurement in Java, and in between Java to Netherland during his tenure, both in Technische Hoogeschool and then in Amsterdam, he found that there is a ‘latitude effect’, that is the observed variability of the cosmic ray is depend on the latitude. His works is highly recognized by his colleagues in European, but was not immediately recognized in America. Why was that? During the period of 1920-1930s, the debate about ‘the origin of cosmic ray’ was well known as the debate between Millikan-Compton, as shown here as the headline in the New York Times.

The headline from The New York Times, 1932 about the debate between Millikan and Compton regarding the origin of cosmic ray.

The work of Clay about the latitude effect did not immediately acknowledged by Compton in the 1932, not until the 1935. In 1935 Compton proposes if Clay can win the Nobel Prize for his work, and also the work of Hezz. But the prize went to Hezz and Carl David Anderson for the discovery of positron. Even so Clay never received Nobel prize for his work, but the more important of his finding that is, the very fundamental of cosmic ray; if the primary source of cosmic ray is charged particle, it will be influenced by the magnetic field, which will be observed as varied in different latitude, as the latitude effect, contrary to what Millikan thought about the origin of cosmic ray. In 1939, the works of Clay was well acknowledged by the general community of physics, such his works appeared in Reviews of Modern Physics.

This month, 100 years later, the cosmic ray study has mature enough, and open the window for the study of sub-particle physics, yet still much more to learn. It is the collaborative effort from the scientists around the globe for shaping the study. What we can learn that is, it is not depend on how big or small the laboratory, but more on how we learn from our nature through the passionate and resilient way. For some, Clay might like an unsung hero of cosmic ray, yet, his legacy from his work in Java remains with the physicist in Indonesia, the spirit of exploration and experiment, that inspiring physicists to study and exploring the vast scientific possibilities of our nature.

Last july, i have been invited to give talk about ‘current status of solar physics in Indonesia‘ for the Asia Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 11th).

The Opening Ceremony of APRIM 2011

I will not discuss about my talk, instead about a collaboration, the previously established one, name it SEAAN (South East Asian Astronomy Network). This SEAAN gain its momentum during this APRIM. The long road history of SEAAN started around 2007 during the 1st Meeting in Thai National Astronomy Meeting, followed by several meetings, see here for the historical fact of SEAAN.

Also around that time, during the ISYA 2007, some young astronomers from SEA region also have the urge to make their own networks. The repercussion of that idea gain the momentum when some of the alumni met on the APRIM 2008 in Kunming, China. These young astronomers agree to start their own collaboration. (See my old documentation here )

Flash forwarded to 2009 during the NAOJ Winter School in Japan, some of those young-astronomers agree to make the collaboration as an organized body, several names proposed, but finally SEAYAC (South East Asian Young Astronomers Collaboration) was selected. There was also meeting for SEAAN & SEAYAC in Manila, on 2010, but to attain a critical mass, sometime can be understood by how many people attending the meeting.

SEAYAC Luncheon, with The elected Chair of SEAYAC, Dr. Rogel M. Sese from Philippine give talk about SEAYAC

So, during the big event, such as APRIM, surely more people come. This prove important to attain the critical mass needed. I will only highlight the young-astronomers & not the senior SEAAN; since i have been there from the beginning. During this meeting, for the first time, the proposed charter for SEAYAC is accepted by large number of young & senior astronomers from the SEA as well. Then, followed by several actions, such as social networking establishment (facebook), and several meeting proposed;  astronomy in south east asia can hope for a better situation, because the network is ready, and the pool of future professional astronomers also ready.

To quote one from a friend of mine, Thilina Heenatigala from Srilanka: “We are heading towards to a period of Astronomy development in the region and it always nice to see countries moving forward with this.”

Non-so-formal SEAYAC dinner during the APRIM

Last july, i have been invited to give talk about ‘current status of solar physics in Indonesia‘ for the Asia Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM 11th).

The Opening Ceremony of APRIM 2011

I will not discuss about my talk, instead about a collaboration, the previously established one, name it SEAAN (South East Asian Astronomy Network). This SEAAN gain its momentum during this APRIM. The long road history of SEAAN started around 2007 during the 1st Meeting in Thai National Astronomy Meeting, followed by several meetings, see here for the historical fact of SEAAN.

Also around that time, during the ISYA 2007, some young astronomers from SEA region also have the urge to make their own networks. The repercussion of that idea gain the momentum when some of the alumni met on the APRIM 2008 in Kunming, China. These young astronomers agree to start their own collaboration. (See my old documentation here )

Flash forwarded to 2009 during the NAOJ Winter School in Japan, some of those young-astronomers agree to make the collaboration as an organized body, several names proposed, but finally SEAYAC (South East Asian Young Astronomers Collaboration) was selected. There was also meeting for SEAAN & SEAYAC in Manila, on 2010, but to attain a critical mass, sometime can be understood by how many people attending the meeting.

SEAYAC Luncheon, with The elected Chair of SEAYAC, Dr. Rogel M. Sese from Philippine give talk about SEAYAC

So, during the big event, such as APRIM, surely more people come. This prove important to attain the critical mass needed. I will only highlight the young-astronomers & not the senior SEAAN; since i have been there from the beginning. During this meeting, for the first time, the proposed charter for SEAYAC is accepted by large number of young & senior astronomers from the SEA as well. Then, followed by several actions, such as social networking establishment (facebook), and several meeting proposed;  astronomy in south east asia can hope for a better situation, because the network is ready, and the pool of future professional astronomers also ready.

To quote one from a friend of mine, Thilina Heenatigala from Srilanka: “We are heading towards to a period of Astronomy development in the region and it always nice to see countries moving forward with this.”

Non-so-formal SEAYAC dinner during the APRIM

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.

The Praying Buddha

Sun Rise in the East

Praying

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.

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:

1. Objectivity & Being reasonable. Why we (human) learn astronomy in the first place? Maybe the best answer that i will use, is the one from Frans Magnis Suseno SJ (2001): Astronomy is the science to answer who is human. So, if we learn about astronomy, we learn about ourselves, about our place in this life, as we perceive. We can ignore, we can appreciate, that is what it is, are we the children of the stars? Are we exist because of a’purpose’? The discussion can be long and endless, sometimes can be hot, sometimes can be tenuous, but the more important thing is, we learn to open our mind; because only with open-mindedness, we can hear the other side, then we can comprehend things objectively. We can agree to disagree, or disagree to agree about anything, but we have our own reasons, and respect the differences, easier said than done, but that is the learning process, and that is the more important thing. The learning process.

Maybe we don’t know about anything, but we learn about the unknownness, and only with open-minded, being objective, we can give reasons about the unknownness, and enrich our life, that sometimes can be surprising.

2. Humility & Responsibility. After we learn the ‘unknown’, then what? Well, each of us have our interest, and incline to do as our heart told, that is the call of humanity. Let’s for instance take this discussion about ‘the creation & the whole process of evolution’, huyyah, this plethora of complex discussion can span from basic science into spiritualistic matter, so, from one theme only, we open the ‘pandora box’.

The universe, and all the things in it, the galaxies, the stars, the planets, the Earth, the birds, the trees, the clouds, etc etc., everything has its own stories to tell, so much information, so much data; so to a point, one should stop and select a point in life, in which we all form this grand and complex universe, as we call life, and so life must goes on. One can goes as an ‘astronomer’, while other goes as a ‘teacher’, while other left our ‘universe’ (Good bye Gus Dur *sobh*).

It is inevitable, that we have our limitation, either in learning process, or in our capacity to cope with all the unknownness; but it is the point of IYA, to build the ‘awareness about the universe’ (Universe Awareness in general sense, as we agreed, generalizing the Unawe), and after the awareness, we understand, and accept the fact, embrace the factual explanation about what we have perceive.

This territory might be a ‘danger zone’, because, once the data interpreted, the interpretation can be so so debatable, so this is important to move away from the personal references in any senses, give up all the egocentrism, and being humble & open mind for all the differences. Once we have learnt, then we understand, and as we have the understanding, we know what to do. And as we learn that in every action, there is a reaction, so we learn about responsibility in every action that we took.

3. The Way Forward

1969 Man lands on the Moon. World population = 3.6 billion

2009 Kepler Telescope is launched to search for Earth-like planets. World population = 6.76 billion

2153 Paleo-17 Space Probe lands on Planet Tanis. World population = 24.34 billion. Food and water shortages are commonplace

2174 The battle for Earth’s limited resources reaches its boiling point. Spacecraft Elysium is launched

.. rrrr .. wrong bat time, wrong bat channel .. LoL .. well, those lines came from the film ‘Pandorum’, a dystopian image indeed. But, this imagination is understandbly came from on how the makers of the movie perceive our very same world.

Instead of worrying about what will happen in the future, better to prepare our next generation to become aware about our universe, our planet, our place in this universe, our life, and all its color. Should be a better world to live, if we live in an objective world? True that the light can be dispersed onto different color of light, nonetheless, the color came from the very same light source. This is the basic science, and this knowledge applied in our life.

All in all, the celebration should be ended in due time, but the learning process is a continual process. while we learn a lot about our universe, yet, much we still to learn, to understand the unknown in this time being. In the same time exploring new frontier, finding new probabilities.

Will we find the end of the road? Who can answer? Regardless, the learning process should continue. So, even if so the IYA should ended, but not the excitement about our universe, in anyway we perceive it. Perhaps for general public can perceive the wonderful pictures from the best telescope in the world, but that would be unfair for those who has visual disability, nonetheless, the light is naturally only part of wider electromagnetic radiation, and can be represented in its frequency, as if as the sound make its shape in a song. we can appreciate the frequency as the music. The universe has the music of its own, feel the sounds and appreciate the universe.

Open our senses, ‘feel’ the excitement, go somewhere & enjoy what you can perceive, and if interest, learn about what we have perceived. So, instead of finalizing the IYA; simply, the expanding horizon of astronomy, this is the Space Odyssey 2010, ladies & gentlemen, boys and girls back to schools, it’s only just begun! (Literally & metaphorically).

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:

1. Objectivity & Being reasonable. Why we (human) learn astronomy in the first place? Maybe the best answer that i will use, is the one from Frans Magnis Suseno SJ (2001): Astronomy is the science to answer who is human. So, if we learn about astronomy, we learn about ourselves, about our place in this life, as we perceive. We can ignore, we can appreciate, that is what it is, are we the children of the stars? Are we exist because of a’purpose’? The discussion can be long and endless, sometimes can be hot, sometimes can be tenuous, but the more important thing is, we learn to open our mind; because only with open-mindedness, we can hear the other side, then we can comprehend things objectively. We can agree to disagree, or disagree to agree about anything, but we have our own reasons, and respect the differences, easier said than done, but that is the learning process, and that is the more important thing. The learning process.

Maybe we don’t know about anything, but we learn about the unknownness, and only with open-minded, being objective, we can give reasons about the unknownness, and enrich our life, that sometimes can be surprising.

2. Humility & Responsibility. After we learn the ‘unknown’, then what? Well, each of us have our interest, and incline to do as our heart told, that is the call of humanity. Let’s for instance take this discussion about ‘the creation & the whole process of evolution’, huyyah, this plethora of complex discussion can span from basic science into spiritualistic matter, so, from one theme only, we open the ‘pandora box’.

The universe, and all the things in it, the galaxies, the stars, the planets, the Earth, the birds, the trees, the clouds, etc etc., everything has its own stories to tell, so much information, so much data; so to a point, one should stop and select a point in life, in which we all form this grand and complex universe, as we call life, and so life must goes on. One can goes as an ‘astronomer’, while other goes as a ‘teacher’, while other left our ‘universe’ (Good bye Gus Dur *sobh*).

It is inevitable, that we have our limitation, either in learning process, or in our capacity to cope with all the unknownness; but it is the point of IYA, to build the ‘awareness about the universe’ (Universe Awareness in general sense, as we agreed, generalizing the Unawe), and after the awareness, we understand, and accept the fact, embrace the factual explanation about what we have perceive.

This territory might be a ‘danger zone’, because, once the data interpreted, the interpretation can be so so debatable, so this is important to move away from the personal references in any senses, give up all the egocentrism, and being humble & open mind for all the differences. Once we have learnt, then we understand, and as we have the understanding, we know what to do. And as we learn that in every action, there is a reaction, so we learn about responsibility in every action that we took.

3. The Way Forward

1969 Man lands on the Moon. World population = 3.6 billion

2009 Kepler Telescope is launched to search for Earth-like planets. World population = 6.76 billion

2153 Paleo-17 Space Probe lands on Planet Tanis. World population = 24.34 billion. Food and water shortages are commonplace

2174 The battle for Earth’s limited resources reaches its boiling point. Spacecraft Elysium is launched

.. rrrr .. wrong bat time, wrong bat channel .. LoL .. well, those lines came from the film ‘Pandorum’, a dystopian image indeed. But, this imagination is understandbly came from on how the makers of the movie perceive our very same world.

Instead of worrying about what will happen in the future, better to prepare our next generation to become aware about our universe, our planet, our place in this universe, our life, and all its color. Should be a better world to live, if we live in an objective world? True that the light can be dispersed onto different color of light, nonetheless, the color came from the very same light source. This is the basic science, and this knowledge applied in our life.

All in all, the celebration should be ended in due time, but the learning process is a continual process. while we learn a lot about our universe, yet, much we still to learn, to understand the unknown in this time being. In the same time exploring new frontier, finding new probabilities.

Will we find the end of the road? Who can answer? Regardless, the learning process should continue. So, even if so the IYA should ended, but not the excitement about our universe, in anyway we perceive it. Perhaps for general public can perceive the wonderful pictures from the best telescope in the world, but that would be unfair for those who has visual disability, nonetheless, the light is naturally only part of wider electromagnetic radiation, and can be represented in its frequency, as if as the sound make its shape in a song. we can appreciate the frequency as the music. The universe has the music of its own, feel the sounds and appreciate the universe.

Open our senses, ‘feel’ the excitement, go somewhere & enjoy what you can perceive, and if interest, learn about what we have perceived. So, instead of finalizing the IYA; simply, the expanding horizon of astronomy, this is the Space Odyssey 2010, ladies & gentlemen, boys and girls back to schools, it’s only just begun! (Literally & metaphorically).

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)].

]]> http://cosmicdiary.org/emumpuni/2009/11/30/festival-sains-antariksa-2009/feed/ 0 http://cosmicdiary.org/emumpuni/2009/11/29/a-visit-to-candi-cangkuang/ http://cosmicdiary.org/emumpuni/2009/11/29/a-visit-to-candi-cangkuang/#comments Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:26:23 +0000 nggieng http://cosmicdiary.org/emumpuni/?p=227 Continue reading →]]>

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