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 Hello folks.


Well I've not posted anything on here in a very long time.

Truth is. I keep forgetting that I have this blog, so I don't think about writing articles or observing reports to post on here.

I must try harder 😃

So What have I been up to?

Apart from work getting the way, and the lousy weather- I've been busy imaging and observing our star with a Quark eyepiece and a dedicated 4 inch F5 Achromat. 

The "Q" allows the user to view the Sun in glorious HA light, so you are seeing the Sun in Hydrogen Alpha, as it was 8 minutes ago.

When I look at the Sun or see an image on the computer screen. I never tire of looking at what's going on in the Chromosphere of this mighty orb. The Sun is after all our life line and it is worth mentioning that it is the only star we can see up close, and study. And what a star!

At the moment the Sun is very active and has many AR, active regions. Some of which are so active. They are "Burping" and sending out Coronal Mass Ejections "CME" these huge clouds of hot plasma can sometimes be Earth bound, so the CME's are eventually going to interact with the Earth's protective Magnetic Field. So keep watching Space Weather's web site for more details. About when you are likely to see an AURORA from you're latitude.

JUICE.

That's JUPTER-ICEY-MOONS-EXPLORER, and not a band. Is now on it's way enroot to the king of the planets "Jupiter"

But we have a problem. The Radar antenna that they are using to penetrate under the Ice of Europa and Callisto to check for water and "Life". Is stuck. 

It appears there is a tiny pin in the way, preventing the Antenna unfurling. Is it the Spector of the late Galileo orbiter interfering with JUICE. You'll remember Galileo was in a similar position, and had to rely on it's low gain antenna to send singles back to Earth.  

Engineers are confident they can problem solve, of the stuck antenna by gently rocking the space craft with it's thrusters. Hopefully this will free the obstruction and allow the antenna to open. Fingers crossed it works.

Now the longer day's of late Spring are here. The weather is being very un-cooperative. I haven't known a period such as this without a clear sky on Friday-Saturday since before January. This is very annoying as we are now heading into the last weeks of Spring. 

Galaxy season is almost over. And I have missed it again! I want to use the SCT "C9.25" again, for some much need visual Mk1 eyeball observing. As well as Solar observing and imaging.

But the weather isn't playing ball. But we live in hope.

Stay tuned for more visual observing updates when I can get out. And the odd image!

Keep Looking Up.





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