6 December 2006

Observing Location	VP
Observational Period	1245-1300 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Broken Clouds Temperature mid 40s F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Low Feels Like Chilly There are steamers of cumulus cloud moving in all across the sky. It does not look good for tonight. Hopefully it will be clear tomorrow in case they get the Space Shuttle launched. Transparency Good Seeing II
Instruments	Canon 15x50 IS binocular w/Baader AstroSolar filter film - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Oph Category Solar Time 20061206.1245 EST Comments Heliographic Latitude (B0) +0.17° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 71.49° Position Angle (P) +13.87° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2050   Groups Spots R North 1 1 11 South 2 3 23 Total 3 4 34 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots) The new group, 929, is already huge, and it is still foreshortened. Group 926 is also foreshortened on the other limb and is difficult to locate in the binocular. Group 926 Heliographic Latitude -12° Heliographic Longitude 131° Mcintosh System Bxo Southern Hemisphere The group is in the western limb foreshortening zone and I would have missed it were it not for the fairly extensive area of plage around it. The spots are small and come and go with the seeing. Group 927 Heliographic Latitude +5° Heliographic Longitude 122° Mcintosh System Aax Northern Hemisphere This group is approaching the western limb but is still easily visible because if its size. It still appears to have penumbra. Group 929 Heliographic Latitude -11° Heliographic Longitude 9° Mcintosh System Dhx Southern Hemisphere This is a monster group. At this point it appears to be a single spot. There is a large umbra in the NE with long lines of penumbra extending out from it to the S and E. It looks like one of those dagger symbols (<†)you used to see in books to denote a footnote. This is the spot that emitted an X-9 flare yesterday.

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The Space Shuttle is supposed to lift off for the International Space Station tomorrow evening and there is a possibility that we may be able to see it from here. It also looks like we may be able to see the two satellites flying in tandem at the end of the mission. Here are the times as of right now:

Date	Time EST	Event	Alt Max.	Az	Mag Max
7Dec06	2135	ISS Launch
	2143	ISS Flyby	8°	130°
8Dec06	0522	ISS Visible Pass	21°	195° 152°	0.1
	0534	STS visible pass	16°	204° 160°	0.7
9Dec06	1635	STS begins final approach to ISS
	1759	STS docks to ISS
15Dec06	1803 1807	ISS/STS Visible Pass	14°	198° 162°	0.5
16Dec06	1705	STS undocks from ISS
	1826 1830	ISS and STS visible pass in tandem	25°	224° 214°	0.4
	1848 1830	ISS STS final separation burn
17Dec06	1714 1720	ISS visible pass (STS too?)	17°	198° 95°	0.0
	1849 1852	ISS visible pass (STS too?)	16°	248° 263°	2.0
18Dec06	1737 1743	ISS visible pass (STS too?)	59°	224° 73°	-1.9
	1912 1914	ISS visible pass (STS too?)	7°	270° 281°	2.9
19Dec06	1130	STS deorbit burn
	1635	STS lands

As of now the countdown continues on schedule for the launch tomorrow.