Alfonso Observatory

09/08/2026

21/06/2026

𝗧𝗢𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗔𝗥 𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗔 🌑

On this day in 1955, Manila and other parts of the Philippines were shrouded in darkness for 6 minutes during a historic total solar eclipse. People filled the streets as Metro Manila witnessed its last total eclipse in more than 500 years.

The 20 June 1955 Total Solar Eclipse is considered the 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆, hence the excitement of both the people and the scientists. The Philippines was one of the fortunate countries that witnessed the total solar eclipse of June 1955, and the country's preparations were far from simple.

According to reports, 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 to give way for the viewing of the eclipse, while schools prepared days-long lessons and activities to prepare the students for the amazing sight they were about to witness. Many foreign and local scientists gathered in UP Diliman to document the total solar eclipse.

The totality, the 100% coverage of the sun, of the Total Solar Eclipse of 20 June 1955 was visible over 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮, 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗭𝗢𝗡 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝘂𝘇𝗼𝗻, 𝗠𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗔, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀. The 6 minutes and 15 seconds of total darkness were witnessed at around 12:22 PM PhST.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻̃𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀𝗲 using a 4-inch reflecting telescope. Though a part of the eclipse was blanketed by habagat rains, the overall darkness amazed millions of Filipinos.

This total solar eclipse will be the 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝟮𝟱𝟮𝟯, but the April 2042 total solar eclipse passing over Southern Luzon will still offer great coverage of the sun over the Metro!

20/06/2026

For those who have come and joined the Alfonso Observatory tour and orientation, I’d like to get your feedback and reviews of your experience.

Please write your reviews here

Alfonso Observatory

https://g.page/r/CWD7HjHHryv3EBM/review

Many thanks!

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15/06/2026

‼️UPDATE: DEADLINE EXTENDED UNTIL 22 JULY 2026‼️

📣 Calling all young Filipino artists to join the Poster-Making Contest ✨

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) invites students aged 6 to 12 to create artworks with the theme, "Space Garden: Growing Food in Space.”

What would a garden look like aboard a spacecraft, on the Moon, or on a distant planet?

📅 Online submission deadline: 22 July 2026
Submit your entries here: bit.ly/philsapmc

📦 Submit the physical copy of your artwork: 31 July 2026

Top 3 entries will be the official Philippine entries to the APRSAF-32 Poster Contest happening in Thailand this October.

Read the full mechanics here: https://philsa.gov.ph/news/yamangkalawakan-poster-making-contest-2026

13/06/2026

Celebrating Philippine Independence Day under the same sky that unites us all.

As we honor the courage, sacrifice, and freedom won by our heroes, we continue to look upward exploring the wonders of the universe while cherishing the liberty that allows us to dream beyond the stars.

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan, Pilipinas! ✨🌌🚀🇵🇭
"Ad Astra Per Aspera"

"AstroCamp: Discover the Wonders Above, Inspiring Minds and Serving the Nation Through Astronomy." 🇵🇭🔭✨

10/06/2026

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over the 9th Philippine Space Council (PSC) meeting on June 2, 2026, outlining plans to strengthen the country’s space capabilities through satellite development and space data utilization.

A key part of these plans is the launch of the Philippines' first liquid-fueled rocket, targeted for early next year from Lal-lo Airport in Cagayan. This milestone launch will test domestic supply chains, safety protocols, and launch authorizations, serving as the first step toward establishing an operational Philippine spaceport. Thanks to its equatorial location and access to the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is strategically positioned to offer safe, efficient, and cost-effective rocket launch and recovery operations for future space activities.

10/06/2026

On June 09 at 08:00 p.m., Venus and Jupiter will reach conjunction, sharing the same right ascension and appearing just 1°38’ apart in the sky.

The following day, at 03:48 a.m., the two planets will make an even closer approach, passing within 1°36’ of each other. Both planets will be visible in the constellation Gemini, with Jupiter shining brightly at magnitude -4.0 and Venus at magnitude -1.9.

The exact timing of their conjunction will be observable low above the western horizon.

Disclaimer: Visibility may vary depending on location and weather conditions.
Source: PAGASA Astronomical Diary
Image from earthsky.org

To get the latest updates, follow our social media accounts and .

Exclusively distributed in the 🇵🇭 by Grimalkin Corporation, enjoy 2-Year Warranty on your Celestron product!

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

Tonight’s the night!✨

Head outside about 45–60 minutes after sunset and watch Venus and Jupiter greet each other in the sunset dusk. Read more about what you'll see here: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/venus-jupiter-converge-in-stunning-june-9th-dusk-conjunction/

Let us know in the comments if you caught it, and subscribe to Sky & Telescope for more astronomy news: https://skyandtelescope.org/subscribe

10/06/2026

Tonight's the night (Tue. June 9) Venus and Jupiter pass each other in the western evening sky. The 2 brightest planets will be about 1.5° apart. You might also spot fainter Mercury about 14° to their lower right if you look carefully.
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-june-5-14/