Saturday, June 28, 2025

11th Thai Astro Conference 2025 (27-30 June 2025)

For the third year, SST Astronomy Club joined the 11th Thailand Astronomy Conference from 27-30 June 2025. This time around, we made the trip all the way to Chiangmai for the competition. 

During the competition, we had the chance to interact with the students from Thailand schools. By pitting our skills against the best in Thailand schools, we are able to match up to the high research standards.  

SST is represented by 

Measurements of the speeds of the various regions in the Milky Way Galaxy using a parabolic grid dish antenna

by Ishaan Rai, Akshay Muraleedharan

Abstract The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy with several spiral arms. Observations of the   hydrogen spectral line allow astronomers to map gas clouds in the Galaxy and infer their motion by the Doppler effect. In this project, we used a   parabolic grid dish antenna on SST rooftop to observe the hydrogen line in the direction of the Crux constellation (chosen via the Stellarium sky app). The radio spectrum around   (the hydrogen line rest frequency) was recorded with an SDR (Software Defined Radio). A small Doppler shift in the line frequency would indicate motion of the gas. Our data show a clear hydrogen signal near the rest frequency, with only a slight shift (on the order of a few tens of km/s). This result is consistent with the gas having little relative motion (or moving at modest speeds) along our line of sight. Such measurements can help map the Milky Way’s rotation and structure by comparing Doppler shifts in different sky regions (rtl-sdr.com, en.wikipedia.org). Keywords: Milky Way, Hydrogen Line, Parabolic Antenna

 

Evaluation of 10.7cm and 30cm radio flux as proxies of solar activity 
by Gavriel Chia Kai Ze, Teh Tian Cheng

Abstract: With the possibility of solar activity disrupting terrestrial communication systems, indicators of solar activity are of significant scientific and public interest. Solar proxies are required to measure the level of solar activity. The 10.7cm (2800MHz) radio band is commonly used as a solar proxy, due to the ease of recording and long history of use. However, the difference in emitted frequencies between types of solar weather requires evaluating different frequencies in predicting and mitigating the impact of solar events. In this paper, we compare the 10.7cm radio flux with the 30 cm radio flux (1000 MHz), finding that the 10.7cm radio flux has a moderately positive correlation with solar activity, while the 30 cm radio flux does not have a noticeable correlation with solar activity. We assess the limitations of the setup and the feasibility of using solar radio flux as a solar proxy.



 



Gavriel Chia Kai Ze, Teh Tian Cheng (GOLD) & Akshay Muraleedharan, Ishaan Rai (SILVER)

 

 

 








29th IPS Astronomy Retreat (22-25 June 2025)

Organised by the Institute of Physics, Singapore. the 29th IPS Astronomy Retreat promises a reconnection with the cosmos for students and public alike. From 22 to 25 June 2025, 25 SST Astronomy club students participated in the retreat with staff and students from NUS, NUSH, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), and other public.


Group photo at the Astronomy Retreat 

The students participated in various programmes, including

(a) Chasing Shadows: Experiencing a Texan Total Solar Eclipse. Mr. Koh Joo Beng (Research Engineer & well-known Astronomer in S’pore)

(b) Workshop: The Telescope-in-a-box: Dr. Abel Yang (Cosmologist, NUS) / NUS Astronomical Society, Mr. Kuang JH, Mr. Tan JH, Ms. Ryanne Rae & Mr. Daren Poh (Physicists from NUS) Mr. Aqil Amirul, Ms. Natasya Buhari, Ms. Zhang Xu, Mr. Samuel Murugasu & Mr. Dannic Lin.

(c) Workshop: Tracking Radio Sources from both the Cosmos & Earth, Mr. Tan Hoe Teck (School of Science and Technology, Singapore) 

(d) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, NUS. Ms. Jharyathri Thiagarajah (NUS Biologist)

(e) Solar Imaging using a Spectro-heliograph, Mr. Alfred Tan (Defence Engineer & well-known Solar Imager in S’pore)

(f) Planetarium Session, Mr. Kuang JH, Tan JH, Mr. Daren Poh & Ms. Ryanne Rae (Physicists from NUS and /NUS Astro Society)

(g) An Astrophysics Lecture. Dr. Leek Meng Lee (Theoretical Physicist, NTU)

(h) Scientific Workshop (Physics of Spectroscopy). Mr. Kuang JH, Mr. Tan JH, Ms. Ryanne Rae & Mr. Daren Poh (Physicists from NUS)

(i) Building an Observatory for Astronomy Teaching. Dr. Phil Chan (Particle Physicist, NUS)

 
 

 

  




Friday, May 30, 2025

Singapore Astronomy Olympiad 2025

The 12th edition of the Singapore Astronomy Olympiad (SAO), organised by Astronomy.SG aims to promote scientific literacy and STEM, and to select students to represent Singapore at the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) to be held in Mumbai, India. The SAO 2025 consisted of 2 rounds, one round of online quiz and one round of face-to-face examination.
 

SST is represented by 5 students from the Astronomy Club. Teh Tian Cheng [S4-02] (28th), Gavriel Chia [S4-05] (41st) won a silver medal each and Lim Kai Jun [S4-04] (18th) won a gold medal. Although they didn’t qualify for the IOAA, their standings are the best achievement over the last 10 years for SST. "Ad astra per aspera" – "To the stars through difficulties."







Monday, May 26, 2025

Catch a Star 2024

Catch a Star


The idea of the Catch a Star program is to encourage students to work together, to learn about astronomy and discover things for themselves by researching information on an astronomical object.

The goal of the European Astronomy Contest Catch a Star is to stimulate the creativity and independent work of students from European secondary schools, to strengthen and expand their astronomical knowledge and skills, and to help the spread of information technologies in the educational process.

Catch a Star is a contest that has been held as a result of the collaboration between the European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE) and European Southern Observatory (ESO).

On 31 March 2025, 5 groups of SST students submitted their entries into the competition. They are found here: 

TEAMNAMESClassTitle and video links
1MAH HON KAIS2-06Asteroids
NANASOMBAT KANTATHAMS2-06LINK
SIN YONG QIS2-06 
2GOH RUI JIE THADDEUSS2-05Corpernican Revolution
WONG WEI KAI, LUCASS2-06LINK
LI SHIYINGS2-08 
SIN YONG QIS2-06 
3CHIEW LEUNG YINS2-01Supernovas
LEE XUAN QIANGS2-03LINK
4LAM CAI TZENG, DEXTERS2-05Eclipse
ENZO ANGS2-06LINK
DESSEN ARWIN TAN AHN JOONS2-05 
5TAY YEOW QIAN DAVISS4-03Black Holes
GOH MIN WEN, TEDS4-03LINK
LUKE GOH REN YONGS4-03 


Team 2, consisting of Rui Jie Thaddeus Goh, Wei Kai Lucas Wong, Shiying Li, and Yong Qi Sin, won the best non-European video prize for their video project on the Copernican revolution.

The prize that they will be awarded is a virtual tour to a professional observatory and a live discussion with an astronomer. More updates will be found here when we completed the virtual tour. 

Catch a Star is a contest that has been held as a result of the collaboration between the European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE) and European Southern Observatory (ESO). EAAE is thankful to ESO and to Astronomía magazine for their support.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

International Space Challenge 2024

The ISC is an annual trans-disciplinary technology design competition that challenges youths aged 13 to 25 to design and develop realistic space- related projects.

For the year 2024, the theme was on Living in Space: Humanity's next monumental challenge
Living in Space presents a multitude of challenges, from the unforgiving environment to the logistical complexities of sustaining life beyond our planet. But these challenges also hold immense potential, not only for pushing the boundaries of human exploration, but also for improving life back on Earth through advancements in healthcare and food security.

For the Starter's Category, the title is:  
Describe how you would perform a meaningful life science experiment in the space environment.

SST Astronomy club is represented by 6 teams of students, with the following reports and posters:
  • Team Astra: WARAD SANATH MANJUNATH (S2-01), NATANIA SREE DINESH (S2-03), RAMYA THANIGAI ARASU (S2-08)
  • Team Astro: KWEK EN XIN, RISSA (S3-03), SEERAT DHALIWAL (S2-01), R ADVAITH (S2-08) 
  • Team Ester: CHIA WAN HOK, JADON (S2-06), JAYDEN JAMES (S2-08), ALLEN JOEL GAN WEI EN (S2-09), EAGAN BENEDICT PUI ZHENG HENG (S3-01)
  • Team Galaxy: PRAISHAN JOSHI (S2-07), KYRAN TAN KAI LOON (S2-01), CHUA LI MING ETHAN (S2-05), TOH HONG RUI, TREVOR (S2-01)
  • Team Hester: CHIEW LEUNG YIN (S1-01), ZANDER CHOY KIT YU (S1-08), LI SHIYING (S1-08) 
  • Team Nova: AURELIUS LI (S1-01), CHUAH PIN JING (S1-01), YEO ZHI XIN , PIPER (S1-01), TAN SHUO YU (S1-01) 
Team Astra achieved a Merit Award for the Starter Category. 
Their reports is found here: LINK 
The video is found here:  https://youtu.be/MA-aAavXml0
Their poster is found below:
Their poster

WARAD SANATH MANJUNATH (S2-01), NATANIA SREE DINESH (S2-03), RAMYA THANIGAI ARASU (S2-08)

The team receiving their award from the organisers

Their certificate


Monday, December 23, 2024

Hainan Space Science Field Trip (7-10 Nov 2024)

From 7 to 10 Nov 2024, a group of 19 students participated in the Field Trip organised by Astronomy Club.  

The objectives of the trip are for students to:

 Learn about the Research and Outreach in Space Science through the visits to Aerospace Museum and the Wenchang Rocket Launch pad. 

  Participate in various educational experiences through the visits to various schools and sites.

 Experience star gazing in environments that would otherwise not be possible in urban Singapore.

  Experience a STEM learning experience for SST students in an authentic Learning environment.

 The general programme is: 

7 Nov (Thu)Wenchang High School
Making Water Rocket 
8 Nov (Fri)Space Super Data Centre
Aero Space Museum
Rocket Launching Pad 
Coconut Kingdom
Star gazing at Gaolong Bay
9 Nov (Sat)Confucius Temple 
Haikou Volcano Park 
Hainan museum  
Haikou Old Street
10 Nov (Sun)Return to Singapore

The students who participated in the programme were: 

SHAUN CHUA ENQIS3-01
JOAB LEE MING ZES3-02
TEH TIAN CHENGS3-02
ANG JIA HAO, TYLERS3-02
CHONG ZHE HAOS3-03
LIM KAI JUNS3-04
FAYONA BINTE SIRAJUDEENS3-05
LEE HAU YEES3-05
LI JIAYOUS3-05
WONG JIA HAO (WANG JIAHAO)S3-05
TOH HOU ENN HOWARDS3-06
VIJAY GANESH LATHISHS3-06
TIFFANY TAN XUAN YINGS3-07
KOEN TAN KAI ERNS3-07
NG YAN XUE, KAISERS3-07
LEE TING XUANS3-08
ANDERS CHARLES LEE EKBERGS3-09
SEAN YUEN HOU WENGS3-09
FU CAI GUIS3-09

The teachers who accompanied the students on the trip were Mr Tan Hoe Teck, Mr Allan Low and Ms Wong Ho Yan. 
 
Wenchang High School
 
SST@Wenchang High School

Space Super Data Centre

Rocket Launching Pad 

Haikou Volcano Park

 Hainan museum