All observing logs for month 2006-09 (earliest log first).
2006-09-05
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-05 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-05 13:20 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 27.3°C ... |
Dew Point: | 16.5°C ... |
Humidity: | 54% ... |
Wind Speed: | 0.4mph ... |
Wind Dir: | West ... |
Pressure: | 1005.6hPa ... |
Notes: |
Quite a cloudy afternoon but during an extended gap I took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-05 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-05 13:20 UT |
I would see a single large spot that appeared to have recently come around the limb of the Sun. Even though it was highly foreshortened I could see a good hint of penumbra. The spot I could see was part of active area 908 (which, if I'm reading things correctly, is actually the return of active area 904). |
2006-09-07
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-07 15:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-07 15:35 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 19.3°C ... |
Dew Point: | 8.3°C ... |
Humidity: | 49% ... |
Wind Speed: | 4.9mph ... |
Wind Dir: | North East ... |
Pressure: | 1022.5hPa ... |
Notes: |
Quite a breezy and cloudy afternoon but during an extended gap I took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-07 15:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-07 15:35 UT |
I could see three active areas (actually, I thought it was just two but later checked showed it to be three — two being rather close to each other). Active area 907 had two faint spots and, close by, active area 909 had three faint spots. The spot in active area 908 (which is the return of active area 904) still looked pretty large, a penumbra was still visible. Also, the umbra appear to have a slight "tail" coming off one side of it. |
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-07 18:56 UT |
To: | 2006-09-07 19:44 UT |
Equipment: | Naked Eye Meade 10x50 Binoculars |
Temperature: | 15.8°C ... |
Dew Point: | 7.8°C ... |
Humidity: | 59% ... |
Wind Speed: | 3.8mph ... |
Wind Dir: | North East ... |
Pressure: | 1025.1hPa ... |
Notes: |
A nice clear evening so a perfect chance to observe this evening's partial lunar eclipse. Given that the Moon wouldn't be visible from my garden so soon after it had risen I headed out to the east side of the village to get a clear eastern horizon. |
Partial Lunar Eclipse
From: | 2006-09-07 18:56 UT |
To: | 2006-09-07 19:44 UT |
I got to my observing spot at just before 18:56 UT which meant that I managed to catch a view of the maximum phase. At this point I estimated that the Moon was around 1° above the horizon. The Moon had a nice visible "chunk" missing due to the umbra of the Earth's shadow. The umbra seemed very dark when compared to the rest of the surface of the Moon. After a short while just viewing the eclipse I used a small digital camera to try and capture some shots. This was never going to work out that well as I hand-holding the camera and it's just a little "snapshot" device. Using full optical and digital zoom I did manage to get one image that more or less gives the impression of what the Moon looked like at the time (I finished taking these around 19:02 UT). Around 19:07 UT I used the 10x50 binoculars to have a better look, it was a very impressive view. The umbra still looked very dark when compared to the rest of the Moon and the features within the umbra were difficult, but not impossible, to make out. The rest of the Moon appeared to have a reddish colour although I assumed at the time that this was down to it still being quite low on the horizon. By 19:22 UT I estimated that the Moon was about 2½° above the horizon. In the 10x50 it was obvious that the area covered by the umbra, when compared to the previous view, was smaller. Around 19:28 UT I finished taking a few more pictures. Again, they didn't turn out very well but one of them gives a reasonable hint of the phase of the eclipse around this time: I then had another look with the 10x50s and noticed that the earlier reddish colour had pretty much gone so I think this confirms that it was down to the Moon's distance above the horizon. By 19:36 UT the eclipse wasn't that obvious to the naked eye any more and it was difficult to see in the 10x50s. If I hadn't known that an eclipse was still happening I probably wouldn't have noticed anything unusual. At 19:41 UT I couldn't see anything of it with the naked eye any more and, even with the 10x50s, there was just a vague hint of a shadow visible. At 19:44 UT I couldn't see anything in the 10x50s either so I packed up and headed home. |
2006-09-08
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-08 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-08 13:20 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 19.9°C ... |
Dew Point: | 9.2°C ... |
Humidity: | 49% ... |
Wind Speed: | 1.3mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South East ... |
Pressure: | 1028.9hPa ... |
Notes: |
Mostly cloudless afternoon although seeing was a little unsteady. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-08 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-08 13:20 UT |
Active areas 907 and 909 were both still visible with three small, faint spots each. Active area 908 (the return of active area 904) was also still visible. The "tail" I saw yesterday was now obviously a second spot sharing a penumbra with the main spot. |
2006-09-09
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-09 14:20 UT |
To: | 2006-09-09 14:25 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 21.6°C ... |
Dew Point: | 10.7°C ... |
Humidity: | 50% ... |
Wind Speed: | 5.2mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South East ... |
Pressure: | 1022.2hPa ... |
Notes: |
Pretty clear day, although a fair bit of thin cirrus cloud about. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-09 14:20 UT |
To: | 2006-09-09 14:25 UT |
Active areas 907 and 909 were both still visible with two small, faint spots each. Active area 908 (the return of active area 904) was also still visible and appeared to look much the same as yesterday with a large umbra and a smaller umbra both sharing a common penumbra. |
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-09 16:25 UT |
To: | 2006-09-09 16:50 UT |
Equipment: | Naked Eye |
Temperature: | 20.9°C ... |
Dew Point: | 13.3°C ... |
Humidity: | 51% ... |
Wind Speed: | Calm ... |
Pressure: | 1018.2hPa ... |
Notes: |
Late on into the afternoon I noticed that a circumzenithal arc and a pair of sundogs had formed. |
Circumzenithal Arc and Sundogs
From: | 2006-09-09 16:25 UT |
To: | 2006-09-09 16:50 UT |
While sat in the garden and admiring some cirrus cloud that was going over I noticed that a circumzenithal arc and a pair of sundogs had formed. I grabbed my small digital camera and took some images. The circumzenithal arc: The circumzenithal arc, close up, and heavily processed in an attempt to bring the colours out more: The sundog to the left of the Sun: The sundog to the right of the Sun: I watched the display for almost half an hour, it was constantly changing as the cloud moved on. |
2006-09-10
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-10 12:50 UT |
To: | 2006-09-10 12:55 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 23.8°C ... |
Dew Point: | 13.3°C ... |
Humidity: | 51% ... |
Wind Speed: | Calm ... |
Pressure: | 1018.2hPa ... |
Notes: |
Very clear, warm and calm day. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-10 12:50 UT |
To: | 2006-09-10 12:55 UT |
Active areas 907 and 909 were both still visible although both now seem to be fading. AA907 had 3 small, faint spots, AA909 had 2. Active area 908 (the return of active area 904) still looked strong and appeared more or less the same as it did yesterday with one large and one small umbra sharing a common penumbra. |
2006-09-11
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-11 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-11 13:50 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 27.2°C ... |
Dew Point: | 13.1°C ... |
Humidity: | 42% ... |
Wind Speed: | 1.7mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South East ... |
Pressure: | 1013.6hPa ... |
Notes: |
Very hazy day with some cloud about. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-11 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-11 13:50 UT |
Only active area 908 (the return of active area 904) was visible today. It still appeared to have one large and one small umbra sharing a common penumbra. |
2006-09-13
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-13 14:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-13 14:35 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 24.5°C ... |
Dew Point: | 15.6°C ... |
Humidity: | 58% ... |
Wind Speed: | 4.4mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South ... |
Pressure: | 1004.8hPa ... |
Notes: |
Partly cloud day but with plenty of clear gaps. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-13 14:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-13 14:35 UT |
A single, small spot was visible in active area 909. Active area 908 (the return of active area 904) looked more or less the same as it did two days ago. It still appeared to have one large and one small umbra sharing a common penumbra. |
2006-09-15
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-15 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-15 13:50 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 21.4°C ... |
Dew Point: | 15.2°C ... |
Humidity: | 68% ... |
Wind Speed: | Calm ... |
Pressure: | 1008.7hPa ... |
Notes: |
Quite a cloudy day and also quite hazy. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-15 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-15 13:50 UT |
Only active area 908 (the return of active area 904) was visible today. Unlike previous observations I could only make out a single umbra within the penumbra. While it's possible that the spots might have merged I suspect this was more down to me being unable to see the separation due to viewing conditions and the fact that the spot was quite foreshortened (it's getting quite close to the limb of the Sun now). |
2006-09-17
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-17 12:40 UT |
To: | 2006-09-17 12:45 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 23.3°C ... |
Dew Point: | 12.5°C ... |
Humidity: | 51% ... |
Wind Speed: | 0.8mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South South West ... |
Pressure: | 1008.3hPa ... |
Notes: |
Very sunny day, not too much in the way of haze either. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-17 12:40 UT |
To: | 2006-09-17 12:45 UT |
Active area 908 (the return of active area 904) was still visible, getting quite close to the limb of the Sun. The spot I've been following for a while now appeared to be just a single spot, a single umbra, that still had a penumbra visible. It's possible that it was still two spots and that I was unable to resolve them due to it being foreshortened. I could also see a new, small, single spot that was part of active area 910. |
2006-09-18
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-18 14:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-18 14:50 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 21.1°C ... |
Dew Point: | 9.6°C ... |
Humidity: | 48% ... |
Wind Speed: | 2.4mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South South West ... |
Pressure: | 1006.5hPa ... |
Notes: |
Partly cloudy day and reasonably hazy in the gaps. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-18 14:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-18 14:50 UT |
All I could also was a, small, single spot in active area 910. |
2006-09-19
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-19 14:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-19 14:35 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 20.5°C ... |
Dew Point: | 7.4°C ... |
Humidity: | 43% ... |
Wind Speed: | 6.5mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South West ... |
Pressure: | 1008.9hPa ... |
Notes: |
Partly cloudy day, slightly hazy in the gaps and quite breezy. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-19 14:30 UT |
To: | 2006-09-19 14:35 UT |
As with yesterday all that was visible was a, small, single spot in active area 910. |
2006-09-21
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-21 14:35 UT |
To: | 2006-09-21 14:40 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 27.4°C ... |
Dew Point: | 13.0°C ... |
Humidity: | 41% ... |
Wind Speed: | 4.9mph ... |
Wind Dir: | South ... |
Pressure: | 998.2hPa ... |
Notes: |
Very clear and breezy day. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-21 14:35 UT |
To: | 2006-09-21 14:40 UT |
As with two days ago all that was visible was a, small, single spot in active area 910. |
2006-09-23
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-23 15:35 UT |
To: | 2006-09-23 15:40 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 21.2°C ... |
Dew Point: | 15.7°C ... |
Humidity: | 71% ... |
Wind Speed: | 2.0mph ... |
Wind Dir: | East South East ... |
Pressure: | 1006.1hPa ... |
Notes: |
Partly cloudy day, also quite hazy. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-23 15:35 UT |
To: | 2006-09-23 15:40 UT |
As with two days ago all that was visible was a, small, single spot in active area 910. |
2006-09-26
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-26 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-26 13:50 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 21.3°C ... |
Dew Point: | 13.5°C ... |
Humidity: | 61% ... |
Wind Speed: | 3.1mph ... |
Wind Dir: | West South West ... |
Pressure: | 1013.6hPa ... |
Notes: |
Mostly clear day. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-26 13:45 UT |
To: | 2006-09-26 13:50 UT |
2006-09-29
Location: | Billingborough (South Lincolnshire, UK) |
From: | 2006-09-29 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-29 13:20 UT |
Equipment: |
Solarscope
|
Temperature: | 19.4°C ... |
Dew Point: | 15.6°C ... |
Humidity: | 79% ... |
Wind Speed: | Calm ... |
Pressure: | 998.6hPa ... |
Notes: |
Mostly clear day. Took the Solarscope out to do a quick sunspot count. |
Sun
From: | 2006-09-29 13:15 UT |
To: | 2006-09-29 13:20 UT |
Three active areas were visible today: 913, 914 and 915. 913 and 914 both had a single small spot each and both appear to have come around the limb of the Sun since my last observation. Active area 915 also had a single small spot which, given its location, appeared to have formed part way across the Sun's disc. |