18 August 2007

Observing Location	Parkchester Library, Westchester Ave near Pugsley Ave, Bronx, NY Lat: 40° 50’ Long: -73°51.5’
Observational Period	0930-9345 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 61°F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Feels Like Very nice It is a beautiful day. There is not a cloud in the beautiful blue sky. Even though it is a bit cool and breezy it isn’t noticeable standing out in the sun. Transparency Excellent Seeing I
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Leo Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20070818.0930 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.0122869 AU 8ms Angular Size 31'39" Altitude 36.9° Heliographic Latitude (B0) 6.78° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 307.58° Position Angle (P) 17.04° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2060 Nothing was seen.   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

---

Observing Location	TotL
Observational Period	2015-2215 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Overcast Temperature 69°F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Feels Like Comfortable When I left the museum I could see stripes of cloud all over the sky with some small puffy clouds in areas. It was not looking good, but I had my equipment and had to pass right by the park, although underground and several blocks distant, so kept heading for TotL. By the time I arrived at TotL it was overcast down low although the Moon and Jupiter were shining through the clouds. It was clear at Zenith and somewhat broken to the north. During the observing period conditions deteriorated and it did not look like they were likely to improve before curfew. Transparency Nil Seeing I
Instruments	SAR: Coulter CT-100 Newtonian reflector - Charlie ~24mm Kellner w/helical focuser (18x) Celestron Omni 20mm (21x) Celestron Omni 2x Barlow
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway Joe Federich (AAA) Someone Tom Clabough sent in from Queens to see the ISS pass

Target Moon Constellation Vir Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20070818.2015 EDT Comments Lunation Phase Waxing Crescent Age 6.05d Distance Light Time (from earth) 403,162 km s Elongation ° % Illuminated % Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) 339.2° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) 159.2 Libration in Latitude 6°32’ Libration in Longitude -0°51’ Magnitude -11.36 Angular Size 29.64' Altitude 17°32’ Virtual Moon Atlas graphic The Moon was shining through the clouds but the image was too indistinct to identify anything but Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis. I was looking at Jupiter and caught a strange light out of the corner of my eye and it was a beautiful honey Moon setting into the trees just north of the Dakota. I got the telescope on it and the air way down there was very clear and I was able to identify the eastern edge of Mare Tranquilitatis and Hercules and Atlas before it sank into the trees. The aesthetic was worth the wait.

Target Jupiter Constellation Oph Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20070818.2030 EDT Comments Object Class Classical Planet Elongation ° Distance Light Time (from Earth) AU ms Distance (from Sun) Au Angular Size "x" Magnitude - Central Meridian I/II °/° Altitude ° Moons Starry Night Starter graphic To me it appeared to be just a white ball. Joe thought he could see the NEB. None of us saw any moons although later in the session I did pick up one moon to the right, probably Io by the position, and possibly one to the left, Europa.

Target ISS/STS-118 Visible Pass Constellation UMa, Cam, Cas, And Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20070818.2044 EDT Comments It was not looking good for this event but clouds were thinner to the north and we lucked out. The satellite was about constant brightness as it moved across the sky then brightened quickly as it reached Cas/And and dimmed and winked out equally as quickly.

Joe and the other guy stayed until right after the ISS/STA-118 pass and during that time I was able to see the Summer Triangle. Hawaiian George arrived just after the Moon set and while he was there I also saw Arcturus and a few dim stars above it, probably the α star of CrB and some stars in the top of the ice cream cone of Boo. In Cyg I could see Sadr and the breaks of the wings. Over in Aql I could see Tarazed, the tip of the upper wing and the central star of the body. The handle of the Big Dipper was visible just above the trees if I moved back a bit to the east but I did not see the bowl stars. I could see Polaris but neither of the guardian stars. There were a couple of stars where I think Andromeda should have been but no Cassiopeia. I may have seen Antares in the scope but could not see it naked-eye.