Check out Jupiter's "dark spot"

Well ain't that just dandy! A new "dark spot" on Jupiter and the weather up here is yuk!!!
I've seen all the photos of the impact and the resulting (and enlarging) dark spot but I just haven't made the effort to get up and check it out. Man, this is one of those blah New England summers. And, naturally, when I get up to check out Jupiter it'll cloud over or I'll be someplace without my telescope! I always tell people that, among other things, amateur astronomy teaches patience!

Finally, sun spots worth looking at!

We had a family get-together and the weather gave us a break from the damp, gloomy weather we thought might just turn out to be our summer routine. I took the opportunity to show a few of our younger (and even a few older) kids the latest sun spots "marching" across the sun's surface. The last time I observed sun spots was two years ago, when I first purchased the (white light) solar filter.
Looking at sun spots through a white light filter doesn't have the grand appearance as a Hydrogen Alpha (Ha) filter but when you mention that the sun spots are typically as large as our very own Earth, you usually get a hint of excitement out of the first time solar observers. However, if you're patient and can sit at the eyepiece for several minutes, you can pick out subtle changes and movement in the sun spots. Our brief time at the eyepiece was a welcome treat that I hope will be a hint of the ebbing Solar minimum.