AUSMAT Students Reach For The Moon, A Stellar Telescope Viewing Event At AUSMAT, Sunway College

On the evenings of 16th and 17th July, AUSMAT students at Sunway College participated in an exciting moon viewing event through a telescope. The event, held from 7 to 9 pm on both days, was organized following a captivating video presentation held a few weeks prior in class, which sparked significant interest among the students. Those keen to join attended an additional briefing session, where they registered for the event.

Despite initially cloudy weather, the skies cleared up as evening fell, offering an unobscured view of the moon. The students actively participated in setting up the telescope, learning to mount it on its stand and assemble the various lenses. By 7 pm, the moon was already visible, and as the night grew darker, the enhanced contrast revealed the moon's features with greater clarity.

During the event, students used the Stellarium app on their phones to navigate the night sky and locate the moon in augmented reality. They also used the telescope's attached finder scope for precise viewing. Seeing the moon's detailed features with their own eyes far exceeded anything they had seen in pictures or videos.

Additionally, students had the chance to capture images of the moon using a phone adapter attached to the telescope lens, allowing them to document the memorable experience. Around 9 pm, the students helped disassemble the telescope, concluding the event.

The moon viewing was a resounding success, providing AUSMAT students with a hands-on astronomical experience and a deeper appreciation for the night sky.