20.09.2021

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Monday 20th  50F. Almost clear skies with bright sunshine. 

09.50 [CET]. First [poor] image. New AR2871 on SE limb.

Increasing cloud streaming across from the north east.

10.01 More cloud. Thermal agitation.

Disturbed region, with spot,  just south of the equator. Potential name AR2872.

There was soon so much cloud I gave up and went back to working on the dome. I arranged the slotted angle across the top of the dome and leveled it. Then I braced it with 2x4s and 2x2s. 

Finally I was able to drag the shutters apart. The rib base level is the main problem. The height is critical to avoiding the shutters not following the slit ribs. Or arching over them. 

In theory I could now screw the top boards to the drawer slides. Though it may be premature given the base ring arrangements have not been fixed. With the arrival of autumn it would be very useful to have the shutters mobile. I could then quickly close them if a shower came along. Wheels or rollers could be temporarily attached to the bottoms of the ribs. This would allow free movement along a plank resting on the ground. This would not be too much of a hurdle. Particularly when moving constantly in and out of the dome while using it as a covered workshop.

Afternoon. Back to imaging. To discover the worst seeing conditions ever. 

Back to the dome. I decided to use the last vestiges of my common sense. To close the shutters ready for tomorrow's rain. The drawer slides ought to be attached to the shutter boards first. Then the slides can be screwed to the zenith board with the shutters wide open and propped.

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