14 February 2008

Observing Location	Chief Dennis L Devlin Park
Observational Period	0945-1000 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 32°F Wind 15 MPH gusting to 23 MPH Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.02" Hg Rising Feels Like Cold Wind Chill 22°F -19°F Transparency Good Seeing II
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Cap Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080214.0945 EST Comments Distance Light Time 0.987 AU 8m 13s Angular Size 33' 26.7" Altitude 27.1° Heliographic Latitude (B0) -6.78° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 99.69° Parallactic Angle (P) -17.05° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2066 Nothing Seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

I discovered today that I have had an incorrect heading in my sunspot reports for the past couple of years. P, which I have been calling Position Angle, is really Parallactic Angle. I think it is the same difference but am correcting my templates to reflect the new knowledge.

11 February 2008

Observing Location	Parkchester Library
Observational Period	1200-1215 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 20°F Wind 20 MPH gusting to 30 MPH Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.25" Hg Falling Feels Like Cold Wind Chill +1°F Transparency Excellent Seeing II
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080211.1200 EST Comments Distance Light Time 0.987 AU 8m 12s Angular Size 32' 27.8" Altitude 35.9° Heliographic Latitude (B0) -6.65° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 131.96° Parallactic Angle (P) -16.03° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2066 Nothing Seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots) There aren’t even any spots on the back side of the Sun now.

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Observing Location	Home
Observational Period	1815-1830 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 23°F Wind 23 MPH gusting to 28 MPH Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 30.30" Hg Rising Feels Like Wind Chill 6°F It looks clear, as it has been all day today, but I don’t see any stars anywhere out my windows. Transparency Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target ISS/STS-122 Visible Pass Constellation Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080211.1815 EDT Comments Not Seen I looked at the wrong listing and was watching 10 minutes too early. This is what I should have been looking for. I started looking to the west and move over to the east and quit looking right about when the satellite was rising in the west. This is what I xhold have been looking for: Starts Time 1828 EST Alt. horizon Az. 313.9° Mag. 0.6 Max. Alt. Time 1832 EST Alt. 16.3° Az. 19.5° Mag. -2.5 Ends Time 1832 EST Alt. 16.2° Az. 24.9° Mag. -2.5

7 February 2008

Shuttle Atlantis has just reached orbit on its way to the ISS. It doesn't look like we are going to have any opportunities to see the two craft flying together this time around.

There were no issues with the main engine cutoff sensors today. It has taken the NASA rocket scientists how many years to figure out that if you have to objects that are supposed to be in contact and one suddenly gets cold that contact may be broken.

6 February 2008

Observing Location	Kitchen Window
Observational Period	0515-0530 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Overcast Temperature 49°F Wind Light Breeze Humidity High Barometric Pressure 29.70 Falling Feels Like   It looks overcast but conditions are not as bad as they were yesterday morning. Transparency Nil Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Iridium 63 Flare Constellation Cam Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080206.0522 EST Comments Not Seen Alt. 38° Az. 355° Mag. -4 I was awake again so I got up to give this satellite another try, this time on the right day, but all I saw was a red-eye approaching LGA.

Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted, counts. attributed to Albert Einstein

5 February 2008

Observing Location	Kitchen Window
Observational Period	0500-0530 EST
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Overcast Temperature 41°F Wind Calm Humidity High Feels Like The sky is bright white with reflected light. NOAA says it is foggy but all I can see is overcast. Transparency Nil Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Iridium 63 Flare Constellation Cam Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080205.0522 EST Comments Not Seen Alt. 38° Az. 355° Mag. -4 I was awake so figured I would give this satellite a try even though NOAA had said last night that it would be rainy today. I found out after the fact that I was a day early. I thought today was the 6th and was looking for a Mag -4 flare at 0522 EST when I should have been watching for a Mag -8 at 0528 EST.

2 February 2008

Groundhog Day

It has been sunny here most of the day, at least the parts of it that I say. I checked on Punxsutawney Phil's prediction and hear that he did see his shadow this morning and is predicting another six weeks of winter.

1 February 2008

February

From the Latin wordfebrua, "to cleans." The Roman Februalia was a month of purification and atonement.

Februarius, originally the last month of the year; devoted to the februa, rites of purification and the dead.

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1 February

Ireland	Imboc (Oimelc)
Isle of Man
Scotland
Wales

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The Wild Swans at Coole The trees are in their autumn beayty, The woodland paths are dey, Under the October twilight the water Mirrors a still sky; Upon the brimming water among the stones Are nine-and-fifty swand. The nineteenth autumn has come upon me Since I first made my count; I saw, before I had well finished, All suddenly mount And scatter wheeling in great broken rings Upon their clamorous wings. I have looked upon these brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore. All's changed since I, hearing zt twilight, The first time on this shore, The bell-beat of their wings above my head, Trod with a lighter tread. Unwearied still, lober by lover, They paddle in the cold Companionable streams or climb the air; Their hearts have not grown old; Passion or conquest, wander where they will, Attend upon them still. But now they drift on the still water, Mysterious, beautiful; Among what rushes will they build, By what lake's edge or pool Delight men's eyes when I awake some day To find they have flown away? William Butler Yeats