5.4.19

5.04.19 Solar

*

Friday: The sun is out but the sky very milky. A cold wind blowing from the east.

10.40: 54/53F, nothing immediately visible in white light.
In H-alpha there is a large splodge of plage below center.[Inverted view]
Seeing is a bit soft without the usual crispness.
The rash of small spots seems to have disappeared.
Can't see any of the minor proms shown on Gong H-a either.
There is a bright glow around the disk in both WL and H-a.

Pm. 63/60F. Discovered my wireless, internet connection, to the laptop in the observatory, was almost non-existent on the north side of the pier. Moving the laptop to the SE wall provided up to 45Mbps! [100Mbps fibre indoors] Downside is being so far from the EPs and the sun shining straight at me through the slit. The lower tip of the polar axis is also just behind my head.

I pegged up a bin bag across the lower slit for some temporary shade but will have to seriously rethink the laptop shelf position. The north side of the pier is the logical place to sit but I need to improve the Wi-Fi. Sitting there I am near the eyepieces [or camera] for instant access during cloud clearances. However, it took ages to get the Gong-Ha solar images to load. With regular drop-outs.

It must be all the metal in the telescopes and mounting blocking the signal from the router. Which is upstairs indoors. I've tried raising the router slightly but there isn't much room to manoeuvre under the sloping roof of an attic bedroom. At least it's on the same level as the observatory. Which is supposed to be good for range.

Saturday 6th looks like a repeat of yesterday. Mild, but far too much thin cloud and a milky sky. Not good [at all] for solar definition. Fortunately it cleared after lunch to provide a spectacular pair of proms at 8.00 southeast true. Possible a spot coming over the solar horizon? Meanwhile, the plage from the earlier spots is nearing the receding westerly limb.

*

No comments: