9 June 2008

Observing Location	PKR
Observational Period	0845-0900 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 82° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.88" Hg Steady Feels Like Hot Another scorcher. 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 Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080609.0845 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31' 33.5" Altitude 35.2° Heliographic Latitude (B0) +0.40° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 3.37° Parallactic Angle (P) -11.94° Carrington rotation number (CR) 1070 Nothing Seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

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In honor of the current heat wave I am providing some heat-related weather terms (source: NOAA glossary).

Cooling Degree Days

(Abbrev. CDD) - A form of Degree Day used to estimate energy requirements for air conditioning or refrigeration. Typically, cooling degree days are calculated as how much warmer the mean temperature at a location is than 65°F on a given day. For example, if a location experiences a mean temperature of 75°F on a certain day, there were 10 CDD (Cooling Degree Days) that day because 75 - 65 = 10.

Excessive Heat

Excessive heat occurs from a combination of high temperatures (significantly above normal) and high humidities. At certain levels, the human body cannot maintain proper internal temperatures and may experience heat stroke. The "Heat Index" is a measure of the effect of the combined elements on the body.

Excessive Heat Outlook

This CPC product, a combination of temperature and humidity over a certain number of days, is designed to provide an indication of areas of the country where people and animals may need to take precautions against the heat during May to November.

Excessive Heat Warning

Issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following criteria: heat index of at least 105°F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or heat index more than 115°F for any period of time.

Excessive Heat Watch

Issued by the National Weather Service when heat indices in excess of 105ºF (41ºC) during the day combined with nighttime low temperatures of 80ºF (27ºC) or higher are forecast to occur for two consecutive days.

Heat Advisoty

Issued within 12 hours of the onset of the following conditions: heat index of at least 105°F but less than 115°F for less than 3 hours per day, or nighttime lows above 80°F for 2 consecutive days.

Heat Exhaustion

A mild form of heat stroke, characterized by faintness, dizziness, and heavy sweating.

Heat Index

The Heat Index (HI) or the "Apparent Temperature" is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when the Relative Humidity (RH) is added to the actual air temperature.

The formula for calculating the Heat Index is
HI = -42.379 + 2.04901523T + 10.14333127R - 0.22475541TR - 6.83783x10^-3T² - 5.481717x10^-2R² + 1.22874x10^-3T²R + 8.5282x10^-4TR² - 1.99x10^-6T²R²
where

T = ambient dry bulb temperature degrees Fahrenheit
R = relative humidity

Accurate to ±1.3° F

Heat Stroke

A condition resulting from excessive exposure to intense heat, characterized by high fever, collapse, and sometimes convulsions or coma.

Heat Wave

A period of abnormally and uncomfortably hot and unusually humid weather. Typically a heat wave lasts two or more days.

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Observing Location	MO
Observational Period	2045-2215 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 88&defg; F Wind Light Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.86" Hg Rising Feels Like Hot The breeze is barely perceptible and not doing much to lessen the heat. Transparency Good Seeing I
Instruments	SAR: Coulter CT-100 Newtonian reflector - Charlie Celestron Omni 20mm (21x) Celestron Omni 2x Barlow
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Moon Constellation Sex Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080609.2045 EDT Comments Lunation 1057 Phase Waxing Crescent Age 6d 5h 21m Distance Light Time (from earth) 382,235 km 1.27s Elongation 82.9° % Illuminated 44.1% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) 345.8° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) 165.8° Libration in Latitude 3°06' Libration in Longitude 7°14' Magnitude -9.8 Angular Size 31.26' Altitude 46° 36' Virtual Moon Atlas graphic Terminator In Shadow Feature Diameter/Length (km) In Sunlight   Aristoteles 87 >>>   Eudoxus 67 >>> <<< Calippus 32 >>>   Menilius 38 >>>   Plinius 43 >>>   Ross 24 >>>   Arago 26 >>> <<< Rima Arladaeus 250     Ritter 29 >>>   Sabine 30 >>>   Dionysius 18 >>>   Altai Scarp >>>   Sacrobosco 98 >>>   Maurolycus 114 >>>   Farocius 82 >>> Palus somni is a little subdued. Picard (22 km) is visible in the otherwise featureless Mare Crisium. I can see Isidorus (42 km) and Capella (90 km) at the tip of Mare Nectaris but can’t find Rimae Gutenberg Grego says I should be seeing color variations in Mare Serenitatis but all I can find is the Serpentine Ridge, primarily Dorsa Smirnov, which seems to have a brighter stripe down through it’s middle. There is more relief evident around the southern and eastern interior edges of the mare than in the north and west.

Target Saturn Constellation Leo Category Planet Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080609.2000 EDT Comments Saturn is forming a right triangle with Regulus and Algieba. I can’t resolve the rings tonight no matter what I do with the scope. Object Class Classical Planet Elongation 73.3° Distance Light Time (from Earth) 9.55 AU 1h 19m Distance (from Sun) 9.31 AU Angular Size 17.3" x 15.4" Ring Angular Size 39.3" x 6.36" Ring Inclination 9.3° Magnitude +0.7 Altitude 31.1° Starry Night Starter graphic

I tried star hopping to some clusters up around Arcturus and down near Spica but it wasn’t happening.

8 June 2008

Observing Location	PKR
Observational Period	1200-1230 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Clear Temperature 90° F Wind Calm Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.90" Hg Falling Feels Like Hot It is hot but not close yet. It is supposed to be though. They are predicting a heat index of 100-104° for this afternoon. Transparency Fair Seeing
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080608.1200 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31'" Altitude ° Heliographic Latitude (B0) ° Heliographic Longitude (L0) ° Parallactic Angle (P) ° Carrington rotation number (CR) Nothing seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

7 June 2008

Observing Location	VP
Observational Period	0830-0845 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Hazy Temperature 68° F Wind Calm Humidity High Barometric Pressure 30.09" Hg Steady Feels Like Warm It already feels warm and humid. It will be a killer this afternoon. Transparency Fair Seeing Ir
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080607.0830 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31'" Altitude ° Heliographic Latitude (B0) ° Heliographic Longitude (L0) ° Parallactic Angle (P) ° Carrington rotation number (CR) Nothing seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

6 June 2008

Observing Location	PKR
Observational Period	1700-1715 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Isolated Clouds with Light Haze Temperature 71° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity High Barometric Pressure 30.11" Hg Falling Feels Like Warm There are isolated patches of mares’ tails after its being overcast most of the day with a trace of rain. Transparency Good Seeing I
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.1700 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31' 34.1" Altitude 36.0° Heliographic Latitude (B0) +0.08° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 38.53° Parallactic Angle (P) -13.02° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2070 Nothing seen There was a question mark on the small SOHO image at Space Weather this afternoon and on the high resolution image there was something that might be a developing group or a dead camera pixel.   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

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Observing Location	Unionport Rd @ Tremont Ave
Observational Period	2030-2100 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Temperature 63° F Wind Calm Humidity High Barometric Pressure 30.12" Hg Falling Feels Like Warm The sky turned pink as the sun set then seemed to clear as the sun got far enough below the horizon that it could no longer illuminate the clouds. There is a high heat advisory in effect for tomorrow through Monday and also a poor air quality index due to stagnation causing a rise in the ozone level. Transparency Fair Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Moon Constellation Cnc Category Lunar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.2030 EDT Comments Lunation 1057 Phase Waxing Crescent Age 3d 5h 06m Distance Light Time (from earth) 364,829 km 1.22s Elongation 44.8° % Illuminated 14.5% Morning Terminator Colongitude (λ E) 308.7° Evening Terminator Colongitude (λ W) 128.7° Libration in Latitude -1° 36' Libration in Longitude 5° 38' Magnitude -8.0 Angular Size 32.75' Altitude 31° 30' Virtual Moon Atlas graphic I thought about bringing the compact binocular out but decided it would be too bright to see anything so didn’t. I forgot that the young crescent Moon would be setting. I couldn’t make out any earthshine or the dark limb.

Target ISS/STS-124 Visible Pass Constellation Aur - Dra - Cas Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.2044 EDT Comments I didn’t pick it up until it was past culmination. I didn’t seem to fade much. I lost it in a tree and after I changed position couldn’t find it again and don’t know if it had gone into Earth’s shadow or behind a building. It passed less that ½ degree beneath the only star I could see which must have been Vega. I probably would have missed the star if I hadn’t been tracking the satellite as it conjuncted with the star.     Starts Max. Alt. Ends H A e b a o v v e e n &nbst s   Time 2046:52 EDT 2049:31 EDT 2052:09 EDT Alt. 10° 32° 10° Az. WNW NNE E Mag -0.7 C a l S k y Time 2045:21 EDT 2050:07 EDT 2015:06 EDT Alt. horizon 31.3° 4.7° Az. 311.5° WNW 28.5° NNE 101.2° E Mag 4.7 -2.9 -1.6

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Observing Location	White Plains Rd @ Wood Ave
Observational Period	2010-2040 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Temperature 63° F Wind Calm Humidity High Barometric Pressure 30.13" Hg Rising Feels Like Slightly Cool I am not seeing any stars our to the west and the Moon is not as sharply defined as it should be. Transparency Poor Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Iridium 25 Flare Constellation Cnc Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.2220 EDT Comments I did not see this Mag -6 flare although I did see the Mag -2.8 ISS pass. I suspect that the flare was blocked by a building or tree. I was seeing planes, which I am estimating at Mag -2 – Mag -3, in the area so I certainly should have seen a Mag -7 flare.   Heavens Above CalSky Time 2220:55 EDT 2220:56 EDT Alt. 15° 14.8° Az. 274° W 274.6° W Mag. -6 -5.5 Surface   MMA0

Target ISS/STS-124 Visible Pass Constellation Gem - Crt Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.2220 EDT Comments I had not seen it from my location so started walking south on White Plains Rd toware McGraw Ave and picked it up about 5 seconds before it passed into Earth’s shadow.     Starts Max. Alt. Ends H A e b a o v v e e n &nbst s   Time 2222:05 EDT 2224:26 EDT 22224:26 EDT Alt. 10° 24° 24° Az. NNW SW SW Mag -0.7 C a l S k y Time 2220:29 EDT 2250:07 EDT 2253:47 EDT Alt. 23.9° 23.9° 23.9° Az. 269.0° WNW 225.1° SW 225.1° SW Mag

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Observing Location	Mcgraw Ave @ Virginai Ave
Observational Period	2315-2345 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Broken Clouds Temperature 63° F Wind Light Breeze Humidity High Barometric Pressure 30.14" Hg Rising Feels Like Cool I was looking up and noticed that when I yawned the moisture in by breath condensed as it rose from my mouth. I may have seen one star briefly but it wasn’t anywhere near where the flare was supposed to be. I am saying the cloud cover was broken because there were some darker patches of sky that might have been gaps in the clouds but since I didn’t see stars it is more than likely that it was overcastr. Transparency Poor Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Iridium 28 Flare Constellation Vir Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080606.2337 EDT Comments Not Seen   Heavens Above CalSky Time 2337:26 EDT 2337:27 EDT Alt. 30° 30.5° Az. 231 SW° 230° SW Mag. -2 -1.6 Surface   MMA0

3 June 2008

Observing Location	PKR
Observational Period	1715-1730 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Hazy Temperature 79° F Wind Gentle Breeze gusting to Moderate Breeze Humidity Low Barometric Pressure 29.88" Hg Steady Feels Like Hot The sky is slightly blue but hazy and in the filter the area around the Sun looks gray rather than black. Transparency Good Seeing I
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080603.1715 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31' 34.8" Altitude 32.9° Heliographic Latitude (B0) -0.28° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 78.09° Parallactic Angle (P) -14.20° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2070 Nothing seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

2 June 2008

Observing Location	CDLD
Observational Period	0915-0930 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Temperature 65° F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.91" Hg Steady Feels Like Warm Transparency Good Seeing I
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080602.0915 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31' 35.2" Altitude 40.7° Heliographic Latitude (B0) -0.44° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 95.74° Parallactic Angle (P) -14.72° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2070 Nothing seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

1 June 2008

June

Named for the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the wellbeing of women. Also from the Latin word juvenis, "young people."

Junius, month of the Junius clan, or of the goddess Juno, or of the young people (juniores).

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Observing Location	PKR
Observational Period	1230-1245 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Scattered Clouds Temperature 78 Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.75" Hg Steady Feels Like Warm Transparency Good Seeing II
Instruments	Brunton 8x21 compact binocular w/Welco gold shade 14 welder's filter - Charlie I had planned to come out with SAR this morning but with the clouds and no recent sunspot activity it wasn’t worth it
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target Sunspots Constellation Tau Category Solar Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080601.1230 EDT Comments Distance Light Time 1.01 AU 8m 26s Angular Size 31' 54.4" Altitude 32.1° Heliographic Latitude (B0) -0.57° Heliographic Longitude (L0) 109.38° Parallactic Angle (P) -15.11° Carrington rotation number (CR) 2070 Nothing seen   Groups Spots R North 0 0 0 South 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 R = (Groups * 10) + Spots)

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Observing Location	Unionport Rd @ E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY
Observational Period	2145-2245 EDT
Atmospheric Conditions	Cloud Cover Broken Clouds becoming Clear Temperature 73° F Wind Gentle Breeze Humidity Moderate Barometric Pressure 29.78" Hg Rising Feels Like Cool I had finally decided between Scattered clouds and Broken Clouds and looked back after checking my references and the clouds were gone. Transparency Good Seeing
Instruments	Naked-eye - Charlie
Observing Party	Charlie Ridgway

Target ISS/STS-124 Tandem Visible Pass Constellation Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080601.2206 EDT Comments I picked up the ISS as it was passing over a lightning rod in the ConEd Van Nest substation and should have seen the Discovery there two minutes later but it never arrived. The ISS appeared dim, about as bright as Castor (Mag 1.58) ISS     Starts Max. Alt. Ends H A e b a o v v e e n &nbst s   Time 2206:38 EDT 2208:43 EDT 2210:29 EDT Alt. 10° 18° 12° Az. NNW NNE ENE Mag 0.2 C a l S k y Time 2204:08 EDT 2208:38 EDT 2210:31 EDT Alt. horizon 17.8° 11.1° Az. 313.4° NNW 20.4° NNE 63.4° ENE Mag 3.0 -1.6 -1.8 STS-124: Discovery     Starts Max. Alt. Ends H A e b a o v v e e n &nbst s   Time 2207:08 EDT 2208:58 EDT 2210:28 EDT Alt. 10° 16° 11° Az. NNW NNE ENE Mag 1.2 C a l S k y Time 2206:19 EDT 2210:42 EDT 2212:21 EDT Alt. horizon 16.9° 11.5° Az. 314.2° NNW 20.6° NNE 60.2° ENE Mag 5.9 1.4 1.1

Target Iridium 49 Flare Constellation Leo Category Satellite Time yyyymmdd.hhmm 20080601.2232 EDT Comments I was watching for it but in the dark I had misread my references and was expecting it at 2236 EDT so was lucky to have looked up and seen it just as it was fading.   Heavens Above CalSky Time 2232:24 EDT 2232:25 EDT Alt. 20° 19.7° Az. 263° W 263.3° W Mag. -5 -5.5 Surface   MMA0

Saturn was easy to see (Mag. 0.4), Regulus (Mag. 1.36) a little dimmer, and Algieba (Mag. ) was barely visible. Castor (Mag. 1.55) and Pollux (Mag. 1.16) were right above a pair of street lights and could only be seen when the lights were blocked from view. I did not see Mars (Mag. 1.15)