31 July 2005

Observing Location	PSC
Observational Period	1805-1825 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Hot, partly cloudy (wispy semi-transparent clouds), no breeze. Minor boiling when clouds not present. Transparency Fair to Good Seeing Very Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binocular with Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Sunspots
Constellation
Category	Solar
Time	EDT
Comments	Activity is picking up. I saw one spot that appears on the SOHO photo but is not numbered yet and will probably be 794, and another that has just rotated into view and is not shown on the SOHO photo yet but should become 795. 791 NW quadrant. This one doesn't seem to be getting any closer to the limb to my eye. It is still one small spot without penumbra but is surrounded by a void. 792 NE quadrant. This is the major spot on the sun right now. I see it as two small P spots in a light gray penumbra with two large f spots in a combined penumbra. The whole group is surrounded by a void area. In the SOHO image the P spots look like they are all penumbra and no spot. The F spot appears to be a single spot with and extended penumbra. 793 NW quadrant. I can see three spots in this group. They are all small and no penumbras are evident. The group is surrounded by a void. 794 ? SE quadrant. This is the first southern spot in a while. It is close to the limb and looks like one spot with a void surrounding it. 795 ? NE quadrant. This spot is right on the limb so must be fairly large if I can see it. I can;t tell anything about it yet.   Groups Spots R Northern Hemisphere 4 9 49 Southern Hemisphere 1 1 11 Total 5 10 60 NOAA Boulder Sunspot Number 62 R = 10 * Groups + Spots

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Observing Location	Met Oval
Observational Period	2030-2130 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	It started out pleasant but by 2130 the RH had climbed noticeably and my book was getting limp. It is a lot clearer tonight than it was supposed to be. I will have to go out atain about 2300 EDT for some satellites. Transparency Very Good Seeing Unknown
Instruments	Naked Eye observing
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Naked-eye Limiting Magnitude Observations

N 4.60 E 2.89 Zenith 3.77 W 3.86 S 3.93 Star Magnitude Lyra, The Lyre Vega α Lyr 0.05 Hercules, The Strongman Kornephoros β Her 2.79 γ Her 3.77 η Her 3.55 π Her 3.18 ζ Her 2.83 ε Her 3.94 Rasalgethi α Her 3.50 variable Draco, The Dragon Rastaban β Dra 2.81 Eltanin γ Dra 2.25 Disban ψ Dra 4.60 χ Dra 3.59 Ursa Minor, The Little Bear Polaris α UMi 2.04 Ursa Major, The Great Bear Alkaid η UMa 1.9 Mizar ζ UMa 2.4 Alcor 80 UMa 4.03 Alioth ε UMa 1.8 Megrez δ UMa 3.33 Phad γ UMa 2.46 Merak β UMa 2.39 Dhube α UMa 1.7 Cygnus, The Swan Deneb α Cyg 1.3 Sadr γ Cyg 2.22 Alberio β Cyg 3.1 δ Cyg 2.89 Gienah Cygni ε Cyg 2.48 Aquila, The Eagle Altair α Aql 0.8 Tarazed γ Aql 2.74 Ophiuchus, The Serpent-Bearer Rasalhague α Oph 2.10 κ Oph 3.22 Cebalrai β Oph 2.79 ε Oph 3.26 Serpens Caput, The Serpent (Head of) Unukalhai, α Ser 2.67 Libra, The Scales Zuben Elschemali β Lib 2.63 Zuben Elgenubi α1 & α2 Lib 5.17/2.77 Zuben Elakrab γ Lib 3.93 Scorpius, The Scorpion Antares &alpah; Sco 0.98 Alniyat θ Sco 2.91 Dschubba δ Sco 2.34 Graffias &beta1 Sco & &beta2 Sco 2.64/4.94 π Sco 2.91 Bootes, The Heardsman Arcturus α Boo 0.0 ρ Boo 3.60 Seginus γ Boo 3.05 Nekkar β Boo 3.52 δ Boo 3.49 Izar ε Boo 2.72 Corona Brealis, The Northern Crown Alpheca α CrB 2.25 γ CrB 3.86 Nusakan β CrB 3.70

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Observing Location	Cross Bronx Expressway and White Plains road, Bronx, NY
Observational Period	2310-2340 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Conditions have really gone downhill over the past two hours. There are few stars to be seen now and I can't relate any of then to eachother to figure out what is where. I saw Vega and I think Arcturus. Transparency Poor Seeing Unknown
Instruments	Naked Eye observing
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	Lib
Category	Satellite
Time	31Jul05; 1318 EDT
Comments	Iridium 23 flared at Mag -1. It was higher and farther to the right than I had anticipated. I saw it but thought it was a star I had missed, possibly Arcturus which was supposed to be nearby. I was standing under a store awning and the star was behind it so I stepped out to see it and it had already faded. It was big and bright but not a blazing white, more a cream to yellow.

Target	Iridium Flare
Constellation	Lib
Category	Satellite
Time	31Jul05; 2327 EDT
Comments	Iridium 76 flared at Mag -3. This flare was to be at almost the same azumuth but a little lower so I changed my position to get an onobstructed view. It was even lower than I had anticipated but I only got a fleeting glimpse of the previous flare. It was brigher and whiter and moved left to right horizontal with the horizon. It lasted 5-10 seconds. I am wondering again whether Heavens Above references their azimuths to degrees true or degrees magnetic. Since they know my longitude and latitude they could do either. I have written to them twice asking and have never received a reply.

Target	Satellite Pass
Constellation
Category	Satellite
Time	31Jul05; 2338 EDT
Comments	Lacrosse 5 flew over at Mag 2.9 but that wasn't bright enough to be seen through the clouds/haze.