19 June 2005

Observing Location	Belvedere Castle, Central Park, New York, NY
Observational Period	0730-0930 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	65º. Wind light and variable in direction gusting to 11 MPH. Cloud cover nearly total. The sun occasionally burns through thin spots in the clouds but not for long enough to fund in in the binoculars let alone sketch it. The sun did break into the open just before 0900 EDT but went back behind the clouds shortly thereafter. Transparency Poor Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars with Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Satellite transit of the Sun
Constellation	Tau
Category
Time	19Jun05; 0751 EDT
Comments	Not Seen Lacrosse 3 was supposed to transit the sun for 2.01 seconds. It was very cloudy and the sun never came out enough for me to sketch it until nearly 0900 EDT.

Target	Sunspots
Constellation	Tau
Category	Solar
Time	19Jun05; 0858 EDT
Comments	779 SW quadrant. This is a complex group of spots that is now most of the way across the disk to the western limb. Each of the concentrations of spots has a penumbra. They also each have a void area around their spots and the areas are distinct one from the other. 780 SE quadrant. These are two small spots in a group that has just rotated onto the sun within the past few days   Groups Spots R Northern Hemisphere 0 0 0 Southern Hemisphere 2 8 28 Total 2 8 28 NOAA Boulder Sunspot Number 50 R = 10 * Groups + Spots

Target	Birds
Constellation
Category	Fauna
Time	19Jun05; 0915 EDT
Comments	Great White Egret, (Casmerodius albus) The solitary egret was feeding between Turtle Island and the Delacorte Theater stage and was driven off by a much smaller Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus that nests on that side of the island.) Heron, Bittern and Egret information Red-winged Blackbird information Mallard Duck, (Anas platyrhynchos) A female Mallard with nine chicks had been cruising around the pond and came up on a section of black plastic they are using to kill weeds along the shore (by depriving them of sunlight rather than using chemicals) to sleep. This is probably the same duck I saw the last time I observed from the castle. The chicks are much bigger now. They are still fuzzy and their wings don't have flying reathers yet. The chicks have a yellow and black stripe down their back. The female has a blue blaze on her wing back towards her rump. I didn't see any sign of the male. Female Mallard information Double-crested Cormorant, (Phalacrocorax auritus) A very black bird except for the wings which have checks of a rich brown. The area under the bill and around the eye is orange. I often saw the bird swimming with just its neck above the water but by the time I got my binoculars in that area it had submerged fishing. I never saw it catch anything. Cormorant information Mourning Dove, (Zenaida macroura) This is a pigeon-like bird but stockier and with shorter legs. Its tail feathers are much longer than those of a pigeon. It was buff colored with spots on its back. Mourning Dove information

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Observing Location	Conservatory Water, Central Park, New York, NY I set up on the oposite side of the Hans Christian Andersen statue from where the birders gather to watch the red tailed hawk nesting on a Fifth Avenue building.
Observational Period	0945-1345 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	It was mostly sunny after about 1000 EDT but there were a few periods when the sun was covered by clouds. The temperature remained mild and the winds light and gusty. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars with Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Rik Davis was there with his telescopes but was selling his bird prints and not observing although he did take a look through my binoculars.

Target	Red-tailed Hawk
Constellation
Category	Fauna
Time	19Jun05; 0945 EDT
Comments	There was a big flap a while back when the building where the famous NYC Red-tailed Hawk, Pail Male, has been nesting for years removed the nest. Whether or not it was the right thing to do they did the research into the law and removed the nest when it was legal to do so. There were protests and it was in the news for a long time. I hadn't heard much about it, like most news stories, since the initial flurry of activity. I had heard that the birds had nested but that the eggs failed to hatch. Today I saw the two hawks sitting on separate rooftops along Fifth Avenue north of their nest. I was impressed by what the building had done for the birds since the nest was removed. The cornice above the window where they had been building their nest is now covered in metal to protect it. Above that there is a tray like a fire grate for the birds to build their nest on. Rik tells me it is all aluminum. It is firmly anchored to the building. As with many projects, the result is not entirely as intended. The nest is only one season old and already large branches are hanging over the edge of the platform. I am told that the eggs failed to hatch this year because the nest is now suspended and air is passing under it and since it is only in its first season it is still thin and a cold snap was too much for the developing eggs.

Target	Sunspots
Constellation	Tau
Category	Solar
Time	19Jun05; 1000 EDT
Comments	My viewing conditions had changed a bit and when a thin cloud attenuated the sun some I could see that group 780 has a void around it. I made quick sketches every hour while waiting for the next satellite transit and was surprised at how quickly field rotation took place between 1200 and 1300 hrs.

Target	Satellite transit of the Sun
Constellation	Tau
Category	Satellite
Time	19Jun05; 1310 EDT
Comments	Not Seen It was clear enough to see a satellite this time but the USA 182 (Lacrosse 5) satellite was too small (5.1 arcseconds) and was only on the face of the sun for 0.7 seconds so I missed it. The theoretical resolving power of a 50mm aperture is 2.3 arcseconds. I don't have any idea what the smallest object I can resolve is.

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Observing Location	Parkchester, E177 St, subway platform on the #6 line, The Bronx, NY This location is not as good for views to the west as it has been. The trees have leafed out and are obstructing the view from the south end of the platform where it is darker than in the middle. I had to observe from between the stairs and was looking into the flouescent tubes lining the edges of the platform roof. They greatly reduced contrast in the sky.
Observational Period	2045-2130 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	When I got to the station there was heavy cloud cover in the west and north. Gradually the clouds lessened and the views were pretty good for 20-30 minutes, then a new band of clouds moved in and obscured everything on the western horizon. It was a little cool and breezy. There ws no perceptible humidity. Transparency Fair Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Mercury, Venus and Saturn
Constellation	Gem
Category	Planets
Time	19Jun05; 2030 EDT
Comments	At sunset Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Pollux and Castor were within 12º of eachother. 2045 I picked up Venus easily najed-eye just above the clouds. Initially I thought it was a plane making an approach to LaGuardia Airport. 2055 I scanned around and found Saturn and Pollux in the binoculars. Saturn looks like an elongated elipse. 2105 I was able to see Saturn naked-eye. 2120 Another band of clouds is moving in from the north and I can't see any of the objects I have already found. Starry Night Starter graphic for 2030 EDT Starry Night Starter graphic for 2110 EDT

Target	Jupiter
Constellation	Vir
Category	Planets
Time	19Jun05; 2100 EDT
Comments	All four Galilean moons are on the east side of the planet tonight. Starry Night Starter graphic

Target	Moon
Constellation	Lib
Category	Lunar
Time	19Jun05; EDT
Comments	The Moon looks like it is only a day away from being full. I am seeing another ray going through Mare Serenetatis. This one seems to be eminating from Serenitatis' junction with Lacus Somnorium and heading dowm toard Mare Vaporum but petres out around the edge of Serenitatis.