Nigella Bryant

Thanks Jeremy, I really hope so, lol. Weather and low sun are a pain at the moment. I guess for all of us in the UK.

Thanks Jeremy, much appreciated. Nice to be imaging and observing again.

Hi all, posting some belated solar images from January 5th. Fist solar session of the year. I think the CaK bird transit is of a buzzard of which we have several which fly around here.

I'll take the opportunity of wishing everyone clear skies for 2022. I've been a little inactive imaging and observing wise due to health issue which some of you have voiced their concerns because of my absence. Anyway enough of that. Posting some belated images from December 2021. Solar observation is a little hit a miss for me during the winter months because of trees and a low sun and of course the awful weather, don't think I've ever experienced such a winter as this with constant cloud cover.

Brilliant Roy, nice isn't it. The spot group has certainly grown.

Managed observations in HA and CaK but didn't have enough time to get the HA scope tuned perfectly but at least it's an observation. Not had clear enough breaks in the cloud since boxing day. New small active region and associated spots in the South Eastern quadrant and what looks like a new AR just coming onto the disk. A few filaments dotted about and four prominences, one fairly bright. Just a shot of the screen with my mobile of the calcium II K region's today. Mounted the HA scope with the CaK today too.

Hi Graeme unfortunately I have not used it in anger yet because of the weather but can confirm that it home park's using eqmod and Cart-de-Ciel. I can also confirm that the usb3 hub working with zwo camera's, zwo filter wheel and modded canon 1000d camera. Sorry can't say about tracking as I've only observed the moon so far but that did stay in the field of view with no straying from the field.

They are large diameter bar's 25mm/1inch embedded a metre into the concert and are rock solid, thankfully, lol.

Flip, he was late, I'd have been worried. Enjoy, lol.

Your pier plate should adapt if it's the same circumference. It should be around 180cm across. You may need to drill new holes for azimuth again dependent on distances. I think it was 160cm spacings. Diagram attached.

Yep, lol.

It's really simple to put in a new power socket. I did it just before Christmas because I had the same issue. Just google the mod and you'll come across a step by step guide.

Well done Jeremy, love it.

Clouded out club, lol.

Yep, all my expensive scopes are second hand.

Hi, it's just a cheapish bresser 100mm achromatic stopped down to 80mm.

I would like to equal or overtake last year's imaging of our closet star. I managed 185 day's. I'm still tweaking the solar RoR that I've set up this autumn. Eventually triple mounting the scopes like I had in the dome. The dome is now fully operational having installed a new Eq8 R pro mount head with the 12inch f4 Newtonian. It's a pig to collimate but just needs star testing and we're all good to go if we ever get some clear nights. I've found daytime and my solar scopes used far more than my night time kit. So in 2022 it'll be nice to think I've used the new kit in the dome as much as the solar. Also doing some DSO imaging and in the autumn planetary imaging as Saturn, Jupiter and Mars will be good from the domes location. I'd also like to start spectroscopy. With solar I'd like to add to the imaging real time counting of solar activity to help with the BAA's solar section reports on solar sunspot and group counting. Well that's my plans.

Indeed Pete.

Hi all, still large numbers of sunspots and groups yesterday on Boxing Day. Only managed CaK between the clouds and rain. Not processed the captures yet but it was finally from what is now the solar shed. A converted shed.

Great you captured the boxing day activities. Solar cycle 25 is according to the pros is going to be more active than they thought.

That's brilliant news about the solar cycle, I thought it must be stronger as the sun's activity has been quite amazing from early into the cycle. All I need now is clear skies, lol.

Well not strictly the postman but Santa, lol. Lovely book on solar dynamics, observing and imaging. Also new monitor for the dome, , defuser for solar flat's and a centering eyepiece adapter, plus more.

It is strange but I use my solar scopes far more than my night time equipment. It is crazy I know.

Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year to you all too. It's great to have an astronomical supplier so close to me and gives such great support to it's clientele.

I really do think I'd be pushing it with items 7 and 8 Alan unless Santa is really real, lol. Lovely to have heat Alan unfortunately hiring Elves to do any job is expensive, lol. Yeah, definitely wish for everyone to stay safe and well this Christmas season.