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Press Release: PABD holds Inaugural Appreciation Ceremony & 4th AGM

by Dr Roslynna Rosli & Norjannah Mahmud. Members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD)

PABD Group photo with the Honorary Advisors and the newly elected Executive members at the 4th AGM

Bandar Seri Begawan – Persatuan Astronomi Negara Brunei Darussalam (PABD) held its 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday at the Higher Hotel, Kiulap on Sunday afternoon, January 10, 2021.

Present during the AGM were advisors to PABD, Yang Arif Awang Hj Johar bin Hj Mohammad, Judge of the Syarie Court and Dr Haji Norarfan bin Hj Zainal, Rector UNISSA. Also present were about 40 members of PABD and members of the public.

The ceremony began with the welcoming speech by Yang Di Pertua PABD, Awang Hj Mahadi bin Hj Md Tahir. The AGM was then officiated by Yang Arif Awang Hj Johar bin Hj Mohammad, one of the Advisor Board members of PABD.

2021/2022 Executive Committee of PABD
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2020 Dec 21 Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

by Hazarry bin Haji Ali Ahmad, The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam

Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Two of the gaseous giants, Saturn and Jupiter, continue to pass each other in the evening sky this week. The angular separation of the planets will steadily increase in the next few days, and both of the planets will hang just above the western horizon in the twilight sky.

Today the sky was pretty clear to catch the post great conjunction moment from Brunei Darussalam Live stream video of the cosmic event can be found www.bruneiastronomy.org/youtube

Post-Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter with its Jovian Moons from Brunei Darussalam on December 22, 2020. Photo by Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad of PABD.
Vibrant Jupiter and Saturn are less than 0.5 degree apart. Photo by Abdul Waliyuddin of PABD.
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2020 Dec 13 Crescent Moon alongside Morning Star

Bandar Seri Begawan – There’s a beautiful cosmic pairing – the waning crescent moon and dazzling planet Venus – in the early-morning sky on Sunday, December 13, 2020. Enjoy these photos from members of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam.

Brilliant Venus, on upper right, and the slender lunar crescent shine side by side with just 1.5 degree of separation this morning, December 13, 2020. Photographed by Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad if the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam from Tutong, Brunei Darussalam.
A spectacular sight on display for early risers. Old Moon crescent and the Morning Star (Venus) hanged about 10 degree above the horizon from Bandar Seri Begawan at sunrise. (Photographed by Siti Nor Izuana Ayob of the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam)

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2020 October 21 How big are the Planets?

Tutong – Mars, Saturn and Jupiter have reached opposition and shine extra bright in the evening sky in October 2020.

How large the planets appear in the sky, as seen through a telescope? This photograph of the planets taken last night shows the actual apparent size for comparison, measured in arcseconds (“).

The evening planets – Mars, Saturn and Jupiter on October 21, 2020 and their apparent angular size for comparison (Photographed by Hazarry Hj Ali Ahmad of PABD)
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2020 Oct 18 Planet Mars at Post-Opposition

A close-up view of Mars from Brunei Darussalam tonight, October 18, 2020 – after a week from opposition and closest to Earth, the red planet is still best viewable in the night sky.

One of the prominent low albedo (dark) feature is Syrtis Major Planum, clearly visible on this photograph. Albedo is a measure of how much light something reflects.

The Martian albedo are the light (high albedo) and dark (low albedo) features can be seen on the planet Mars (Photo by Hazarry bin Haji Ali Ahmad, the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam)
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2020 Sep 26 International Observe the Moon Night 2020

International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon.

Past first quarter moon from Warisan Puk Balaban, Brunei Darussalam on Sep 26, 2020 (Photo by @je0nflwr)
Touch the Moon activity at InOMN Brunei Darussalamn
International Observe the Moon Night 2020 coverage by Radio Television Brunei.

Brunei Darussalam joined it’s first global InOMN moon observation which was organised by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam and Warisan Puk Balaban management on September 26, 2020. More than 100 lunar observers participated in the public outreach event at Warisan Puk Balaban in Tutong. Here are some of the scenes in action at InOMN.

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2020 Sep 12 Stargazing at HAGAP

Bandar Seri Begawan – About 15 children guests at Homestay Alai Gayoh Anak Pulau (HAGAP), Tutong, were treated to an amazing night for stargazing on September 12, 2020.

The stargazing @ HAGAP was facilitated by 11 members of The Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD). The session was planned to start at 7 pm at the front lawn, but a thin blanket of clouds and drizzles continuing until pre dawn which put the observation on hold. But, the rest of the sky was clear until sunrise.

Cikgu Benson bin Tunggong, the owner of Homestay Alai Gayoh Anak Pulau (HAGAP) in Bukit Udal, Tutong with some of the children guests (Photo by PABD)
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2020 Aug 29 Stargazing at Warisan Puk Balaban

Stargazing and camping go hand in hand to enjoy the beauty of our universe.

More than 30 students of Tanjong Maya secondary school enjoyed their ultimate first time stargazing experience at Warisan Puk Balaban on August 29, 2020.

Close conjunction of Saturn and the Moon at about 2 degrees separation on August 29, 2020 from Puk Balaban, Tutong (Photo by Dr Hjh Roslynna Hj Rosli of PABD)
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