Hello hive people, how are you?
May you always be healthy and happy.
I want to share a story about my experience visiting the Space Observatory in 2017. The observatory is named E - Maya. At that time I was with my students (Andi & Dewi) and guided by Mr. Ari Wibowo as the person in charge of the E-Maya observatory, we were invited to see the observatory facilities, toured, were given an explanation about space science and did not forget to capture this interesting moment. Because many angles and beautiful scenery make us happy.
We visited the E-Maya Observatory when this location was not yet open to the public. So that we were free to observe, explore, and try the binoculars even though it was daytime. Do you know?
This observatory is one of the supporting facilities of the Indonesian National Character Development Campus which is located in Binong District, precisely located at Jalan Raya Binong no 65 Binong - Subang West Java 41253. The distance from the Subang Toll Gate (KM 109) is approximately 20 minutes. Since its inception, it has been designed as a place of education and training to build national character for future leaders with a national perspective.
Currently this campus has produced graduates of high school students in 2019 are the Eleventh graduates.
The high school is currently the leading high school in West Java Province. It is called SMA Plus, because it has special characteristics, including students from various regions in Indonesia with different social strata, all in dormitories, and strict, persuasive discipline is applied in order to instill soft skills and life skills that will be useful in leadership development. in the world of work as well as in the association of society, nation and state.
The E-maya observatory has similarities with other observatories. But, compared to the other observatories, E-maya observatory has indecent equipment and funding which is not as much as other observatories. Currently, E-maya observatory has limited human resources. The staff member needs to do considerable work, such as managerial task, practical work as technician, visitor guide, also maintenance for the observatory at the same time.
Despite the challenges and limited resources, the founder of E-maya observatory and staff member commit to continuously improving the observatory and even adding more instrument in the future like radio telescope.
Basically, the location of E-maya observatory is suitable for Rukyatul Hilal. It is surrounded by rice field, has adequate horizon view, low light pollution, and accessible. Therefore, the founder built the observatory in the current location. As a matter of fact, E-maya observatory is one of the eight observation points for Rukyatul Hilal in West Java.
The Regional Office and Ministry of Religion representative at West Java Province who had visited the observatory during the 1st Dzulhijjah 1439 H determination mentioned that E-maya observatory together with Sukabumi would be the iconic places for Rukyatul Hilal in West Java. In contrast to E-maya observatory, Sukabumi is a coastal district which facing the sea (or has sea horizon view). In addition, Sukabumi received enough financial support up to 3.5 billion rupiah from the Sukabumi government and the Center Office so that it can be used as the representative place for Rukyat Hilal.
Other activities in religious terms are rukyat reckoning training in cooperation with the ministry of Religion in Subang district and provincial.
Gradually, other activities (other than Rukyat Hilal) have been developed at the E-maya observatory, such as modest research on variable star based on photometry data. The research activities have been carried out and making good progress and still ongoing today. Photometry observation has been persistently performed at the observatory, therefore the staf member plan to continue the work by observing more variable stars, not only the short period variable stars but also the long period ones.
The variable star observation was established as the long-term project and will be improved continuously, especially with the increase of human resource and in collaboration with astronomers from other observatories, i.e. Bosscha Observatory ITB.
E-maya observatory staf member also hold astronomical training for high school students to use astronomical devices and to try scientific activities, such as observing variable stars using DSLR camera and performing the analysis. Also, E-maya observatory provide training for junior and senior high school teachers who are members of the Subang Middle School Science MGMP and Subang Physics MGMP in developing astronomical learning devices for students in their respective schools.
Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting. Best wishes and good health always.
