Rain fails to dampen stargazers' spirit
Monday, April 23, 2007
HEAVY rain pelted down on Brunei's first ever observation of Astronomy Day, but this did little to deter a sizeable crowd from gathering at the Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien in the capital.
Around a hundred people of all ages turned up at the announced venue Saturday evening despite the downpour, and made themselves at home in the permanent sheltered stands on one side of the green.
They were treated to an animated presentation on astronomy by Hj Mahadi Hj Mohd Tahir, General Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam, as well as an astronomy video projected on a large screen. The evening's activities were interspersed with informal quizzes open to anyone in the crowd. Children were also encouraged to ponder simple puzzles prepared by the organisers. Skywatching plans unfortunately had to be cancelled on account of the rain and the overcast sky. The Survey Department had generously arranged for several observation points for visitors to study the moon's surface, as well as constellations and planets visible from Brunei at this time of the year. The event was officially launched by the General Surveyor of Brunei, Hj Mohd Jamil Hj Mohd Ali, and was scheduled to run till 11pm. The Survey Department and Astronomical Society of Brunei previously announced that the selected theme for this year's Astronomy Day would be "Bringing Astronomy to the People".
The Brunei Times
Around a hundred people of all ages turned up at the announced venue Saturday evening despite the downpour, and made themselves at home in the permanent sheltered stands on one side of the green.
They were treated to an animated presentation on astronomy by Hj Mahadi Hj Mohd Tahir, General Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam, as well as an astronomy video projected on a large screen. The evening's activities were interspersed with informal quizzes open to anyone in the crowd. Children were also encouraged to ponder simple puzzles prepared by the organisers. Skywatching plans unfortunately had to be cancelled on account of the rain and the overcast sky. The Survey Department had generously arranged for several observation points for visitors to study the moon's surface, as well as constellations and planets visible from Brunei at this time of the year. The event was officially launched by the General Surveyor of Brunei, Hj Mohd Jamil Hj Mohd Ali, and was scheduled to run till 11pm. The Survey Department and Astronomical Society of Brunei previously announced that the selected theme for this year's Astronomy Day would be "Bringing Astronomy to the People".
The Brunei Times
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