Hadn't heard that the black drop was a problem with the optical path; I thought it was simply an illusion. After all, you can create the same effect by lightly pinching your fingers together at arms length. I was observing with a Williams Optics refractor - it belongs to someone else so I don't know the specs but I think it is an optically superior instrument. Seeing has been about what you'd expect for a warm and windy afternoon. Another effect I observed but forgot to report earlier was the arc of Venus, at about 10 minutes into the transit, or 2nd contact minus 4 or 5 minutes. Again, this was in white light. I had a long line at the scope and I didn't want to upset anyone by staying at the eyepiece for too long. Anyone else see the arc? Debbie, I understand that there have been delays posting the images that a volunteer here is taking for the NASA webcast. You may simply be seeing a slightly delayed image. Kim