16 September 2006

Observing Location	NY Hall of Science, Corona, Queens, NY
Observational Period	1130-1200 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Partly cloudy, warm, breezy. Transparency Good Seeing Good
Instruments	Canon 15x50 IS binocular w/Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Leo Category Solar Time 20060916.1130 EDT Comments Heliphraphic Latitude (B0) +7.19° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 60.97° Position Angle (P) +24.29° Carrington Rotation Number (CR) 2047 There is only one spot on the sun today and it is way off in a corner. 904/908 Heliographic Latitude -9° Heliographic Longitude 132° McIntosh System Axx The spot is over near the western limb, into the foreshortening region, but is still easily visible. Without being able to sit and get good stabilization I can't tell if there is penumbra present or not.   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 1 1 11 Total 1 1 11 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

Target Moon Constellation Gem Category Lunar Time 20060916.1145 EDT Comments A nice waning crescent Moon was hanging over the Hall of Science at about Alt 50°. Most of the sunlit disc appears as though it is in shadow and lit by earthshine, only the terminator is bright. Gassendi stands out dark in a splash of light.

---

Observing Location	MetOval
Observational Period	2000-2200 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Transparency didn't get bad tonight the way CSC had said it would. The air at the oval felt very moist but part of that may be humidity caused by the fountains. Transparency Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye observing - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

I went to the oval tonight to write up my blog posts for today for both astronomy and ham radio and to read a little on radio astronomy. By the time I had finished the blog I was seeing stars and decided to see how much I could are around the flood lights. I ended up spending more time than I should have since I have to be up at 0330 tomorrow morning to get to a ham radio event.

Naked-eye Limiting Magnitude North 4.23 East 3.97 Zenith West 3.52 South Object Mag. Alt. Ophiuchus, The Serpent Bearer Rasalhague α Oph 2.08 39.52 HIP 85826 & HIP 85666 6.42 & 6.47 38.61 Cebalrai β Oph 2.76 35.28 κ Oph 3.19 30.62 Hercules, The Strongman Rasalgethi α Her 2.78 37.05 Kornephoros β Her 2.78 33.04 ζ Her 2.81 40.53 Sarin δ Her 3.12 43.43 π Her 3.16 49.07 Andromeda, The Chained Maiden Deneb el Okab ζ Aql 2.99 55.18 δ Aql 3.36 48.16 Alpheratz α And 2.07 47.76 Lyra, The Lyre Sulafat γ Lyr 3.25 66.98 Sheliak β Lyr 3.52 65.63 ζ Lyr 4.34/5.73 66.18 δ Lyr 5.58 & 4.22 67.90 Pegasus, The Winged Horse Matar η Peg 2.93 63.82 Scheat β Peg 2.44 59.39 μ Peg 3.51 59.80 λ Peg 3.97 59.73 Markab α Peg 2.49 50.80 Homam ζ Peg 3.41 50.97 Algenib γ Peg 2.83 38.78 Cepheus, The King Alderamin α Cep 2.45 67.59 Garnet Star μ Cep 4.23 69.83 ζ Cep 3.39 68.01 η Cep 3.41 68.83 Alfirk β Cep 3.23 59.65 ι Cep 3.50 59.29 Alrai γ Cep 3.21 49.06 Ursa Minor, The Little Bear Polaris α UMi 1.92 40.72 Kochab β UMi 2.07 39.06 Pherkad γ UMi 3.00 40.82 Draco, The Dragon θ Dra 4.01 43.05 η Dra 2.73 46.14 Aldhibah ζ Dra 3.17 50.78 Nodis Secunda δ Dra 3.07 60.10 χ Dra 3.55 53.44 Eltanin γ Dra 2.24 59.01 Rastaban β Dra 2.79 54.96 Cassiopea, The Queen Caph β Cas 2.28 53.80 Schedar α Cas 2.24 53.80 Achird η Cas 3.46 53.80 γ Cas 2.15 47.78 Ruchbah δ Cas 2.66 44.17 Segin ε Cas 3.35 41.38

Target Unidentified Satellite Constellation Category Satellite Time 20060916.2127 EDT Comments Passing SE-NE