9 July 2005

Comfortable temperature for sitting in the sun, strong gusting wind, passing clouds, very slight boiling on the top limb of the Sun, no haze.

Observing Location	Parkchester South Condominium oval, The Bronx, NY
Observational Period	1745-1800 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Transparency Excellent Seeing Excellent
Instruments	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilized binoculars with Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target	Sunspots
Constellation	Gem
Category	Solar
Time	9Jul05; 1745 EDT
Comments	783 NE quadrant. I saw a very white spot on the limb where I was not seeing any granularity but I did not see any spots in it. 786 NE quadrant. This is the dominant spot right now. It is the most complex and largest in area. There are two larger spots in it that each look like they have a penumbra. There are several smaller spots and it looks like a circle around the group where the granularity of the rest of the disk begins. 788 SE quadrant. This is a single large spot. 789 NW quadrant. This group is composed of two large spots with a small smudge between them   Groups Spots R Northern Hemisphere 2 8 28 Southern Hemisphere 1 1 11 Total 3 9 39 NOAA Boulder Sunspot Number 111 R = 10 * Groups + Spots

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I had been thinking about going down to central park to observe tonight but put of the go/no go decision until 19:30 because the satellite loop was showing clouds coming down around the back side of the low pressure system that had been Tropical Depression Cindy. I was heading home to take a look at the latest imagery when I saw some ominous looking clouds out to the west. I went over a couple of blocks to where the buildings were not as tall and could see parts of the cloud hanging down like where you would expect a tornado to develop. I walked down to the Cross Bronx Expressway where I had a good view to the west and could see the clouds moving my way with rain following them. I decided to stay there and observe for a while figuring I would see the highway get wet and have warning to get home. I watched as more and more of the cloud moved over me and I could see the rain falling at the back edge of it. But the highway never got wet and I thought it was virga. I felt a few drops of rain but was still seeing it falling a good way off and the highway was not getting wet so still I figured it was virga and a few drops were getting through. It started to sprinkle so I headed towards the house in no particular hurry, but I was reading a library book and didn't want to get it wet. Before I got over two blocks to Metropolitan Avenue it was raining heavily. It let up a little when the traffic light changed in my favor so I raced across the street and stood under the sidewalk shed of the building adjacent to mine until the rain slackened enough for me to make it to the house without getting too wet. I checked the radar and it looks like most of the rain is now upstate, but it isn't worth taking the chance. I am not going observing tonight.