18 June 2005

Observing Location	Metropolitan Oval, The Bronx, NY
Observational Period	1810-1830 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	There were some big cumulus clouds over in the west and it was difficult to look there because the sunlingt reflecting off their tops was so bright. The clouds were breaking up in the east but they were still low and dark in the west.Comfortable temperature and light wind. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	Leo
Category	Satellite
Time	18Jun05; 1824 EDT
Comments	Iridium 7, Mag -6.7, Alt 69º, Az 254º It was hard to look where the flare was to occur because of the intensity of the sun shining off the cloud tops. The satellite appeared as a faint dot of light just below a cloud. It faded quickly. Had I not been looking right at it when it began to fade I would have missed it entirely. Mag -6.7 is just visible in when separated ~50º from the sun 2:10 before sunset if you know right where to look.

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Observing Location	Battery Park City, New York, NY I started off at the Irish Famine Memorial overlooking the Hudson river and when it closed at 2050 EDT I moved to benches near the pool in the park across the road.
Observational Period	2015-2115 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	I wasn't sure I was going to be able to see out to the west when I left The Bronx but on reaching Fulton Street it didn't look too bad so I went on over to the river and found some clouds low on the horizon and some up about where the planets should have been but clear sky between so gave it a try. The clouds built all around me and it was threatening rain but that never happened. It was very dark out over Brooklyn and Queens and by the time I quit the only place you could see the sky was in the SW and the clouds were rapidly moving in that direction. The temperature was comfortable and the wind moderate. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Castor and Pollux
Constellation	Gem
Category	Planets
Time	19Jun05; 2030 EDT
Comments	At sunset Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Pollux and Castor were within 11º of eachother. 2023 Venus sighted in the binoculats by scanning the sky where I thought it should be. 2024 Once I knew roughly where Venus was I was able to locate it naked-eye but it was difficult and not easy to recover. 2053 I sighted Saturn naked eye before I found it in my binoculars. It was very dim and it was a while before I was able to locate it naked-eye repeatedly. In the binoculars it appeared cigar-shaped. 2055 I was able to find Pollux in the binoculars but not Castor. 2057 Castor was visible in the binoculars 2059 Pollux was sighted naked-eye. 2100 Heavy clouds are moving in from the north under Venus and it is likely that I will not see Mercury tonight. 2105 Saturn is now easy to see naked-eye. Pollux still takes some work and Castor is very difficult to find without the binoculars. 2108 Castor is becoming easier but still takes some work. Pollux is fairly easy since it is twinkling and calling attention to itself. 2109 Mercury is definately down below the clouds and is lost Starry Night Starter graphic for 2030 EDT Starry Night Starter graphic for 2105 EDT

Target	Jupiter
Constellation	Vir
Category	Planet
Time	18Jun05; 2107 EDT
Comments	Jupiter was seen through the trees at right angles to Venus and the orientation of my bench. Between being very unstable twisting at 90º and looking through the trees I couldn't tell anything about the planet other than it was big and round.

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Observing Location	City Hall Park, New York, NY I did not have my tripod with me so needed to sit where I would be stable and could deal with my binoculars, notebook and pen without loosing anything so was fighting with the trees and buildings to find a place where I could both sit and see the Moon. I ended up as far NW as you can go in the park without running afowl of the police guarding City Hall. There are sprinklers in the grass here and you need to be careful where you sit and listen for them starting up as some of them spray over the paths and benches.
Observational Period	2300-2330 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	There were broken clouds covering various parts of the sky. Where there was no cloud the air appeared to be very clear. It ws a little cool but not windy. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Moon
Constellation	Lib
Category	Lunar
Time	18Jun05; 2300 EDT
Comments	The terminator starts up at the North Pole just east of the craters Byrd and Perry and goes down past Mouchez then Philolaus, Anaxemenes and Carpenter; well to the east of Sinus Iridum and Mare Imbrium and east of bright Aristarchus and Herodotus which was easily seen. The crater Marusa A was easily seen and appears sharply defined west of the terminator in dark Oceanus Procellarum. From there it passed through a jumble of craters E, NE and SE of Mare Humorum and east of crater Schiller. The terminator passed through the crater Schicard located at about 7:30 and it's floor was a very dark simicircle carved out of the ternimator. Many more rays were visible emanating from Tycho tonight. Copernicus looks unchanged. I saw a shadow area east of a peak or ridge east of Aristarchus. It may have been shadow from Vallis Schroter. I saw something that looked like a ray following the curve of the western limb between Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis. I have not been able to figure out what it might be.

Target	α Librae
Constellation	Lib
Category	Double Star
Time	18Jun05; 2321 EDT
Comments	Zuben Elgenubi α1 Lib Mag 2.77   α1 Lib Mag 5.17 Widely separated, 1.5 peas distance. The primary star is much brighter and appears white; the secondary looks blue or gray. The primary star (α1 Lib) is also a close double.