31 September 2007

Sunspots Observed

The Sun really let me down this month. I started observing at the beginning of the month but there was nothing to see so checked in Space Weather and Active Region Explorer to make sure I didn't miss anything but the last time I saw a spot was on 29Aug07. We must be at the bottom of the sunspot cycle. How long will it last.

Observing Hours for the Year To Date

	Day			Night			Total
	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg	Hours	Days	Avg
Jan	4.25	12	0.35	7.75	9	0.86	12.00	16	0.75
Feb	3.50	14	0.30	20.75	5	2.04	24.25	15	1.17
Mar	9.25	16	0.40	36.75	10	2.76	46.00	17	1.71
Apr	4.00	14	0.38	22.50	7	2.83	26.5	16	1.70
May	11.75	16	0.45	31.00	9	2.97	42.75	20	1.80
Jun	7.00	15	0.46	18.50	8	2.86	25.50	18	1.74
Jul	5.75	18	0.43	30.00	10	2.88	35.75	19	1.76
Aug	8.00	13	0.45	42.25	14	2.91	50.25	19	1.88
Sep	2.25	6	0.38	44.50	15	2.97	46.25	16	2.89
TOTAL	55.75	124	0.45	254.50	87	2.92	309.25	156	1.98

I just discovered a problem with the spreadsheet that this table is based upon. The formula for calculating the averages under the total column was incorrect and probably has been for years. The figures in the table above have been adjusted based on the corrected formula but I am not going back to corredt previous tables.