21.11.2025 Removing the blinkers.

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  Friday and the sun is out while I am at home. I was waiting for the sun to align with the small, dormer window. So that I do some more imaging from the comfort of being indoors. Patience is certainly required. 

 This image was captured this morning through the double glazed window. I adjusted the etalon:focus distance to produce the most even surface detail. Perhaps a little brighter at center of the disk.

 When I peered out of the window. To check where the sun was shining. I noticed something new. Everything on the east side of the house is in deep shadow. From the absent neighbour's trees. Nothing new there. Then I noticed the patch of ground on the western side of the greenhouse. This was enjoying almost uninterrupted sunshine. 

 This had never been possible in the past due to the tall front hedge. Now reduced to head height. Several foolishly tall conifers have all been removed. Leaving only a couple of shrubs. Which I had reduced to a couple of meters in height. These could well be lowered further. A bit of trimming of some shrubs to the west would give me plenty of room to set up the solar telescope. While still providing shelter from the prevailing SW winds. I'd get hours of uninterrupted sunshine.

 It's not the easiest place to reach at the moment. Because of legacy hedges and shrubs. Which I was never allowed to touch. Now I am in sole charge of the garden I can choose to hack back what I like. This space was previously closed to my mind. By all the years of adjusting to foolish overgrowth. 

This area lies outside one kitchen window. Just beyond the kitchen sink. There is no reason why I couldn't set up the monitor and keyboard in the corner of the kitchen. To control the AM5N mount and ASI174mm camera. I would still enjoy the comfort of being indoors. While the telescope would be looking over a paddock and then endless fields beyond. With few thermal issues to worry about. 

  ~*~

17.11.2025 Imaging through a window.

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  Monday 17th It was after 12.00 before the sun reached the telescope through the small, double glazed, dormer window. Opening the window produced fierce, thermal agitation of the image.

 
 Here I have added the Lunt 60MT etalon to the 102mm Apo. Not bad for a first attempt. The optics weren't well aligned. The sun had moved too far to the west to allow a clear shot. At least I have a reference for etalon to focus spacing now.

 

 

 

 

 

  ~*~

15.11.2025 White light imaging [badly.]

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  Saturday 15th. Finally sunshine.

 I am set up on the upstairs landing. 102mm F7 Tecnosky Apo, assorted filters, Lunt 1.25" wedge, ZWO ASI174mm camera. AM5N mount, AVX tripod. 
 

Pointing at the sun through a double glazed, dormer window. Opening the window resulted in violent thermal agitation of the image.

 

 

 

 

 

  ~*~

13.11.2025 Indoor solar imaging?

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  Thursday 13th Another grey, cold and windy day is forecast.

 I have made no progress on the modified H-alpha solar telescope. On the rare occasions the sun was out. Then so was I.  

 A flash of sunshine this morning had me wandering outside looking for clear views. The combination of low sun and all the trees made it impossible until much later. Even then it would be no fun with the wind gusting to 15m/s or over 30mph. Temperatures will peak at 12C/54F at the most this afternoon.

 I checked upstairs. There was no chance of setting up a telescope to peer through any of the windows. At least, not until much later. When the sun had moved further to the south. Which meant I could place the tripod on the upstairs landing in anticipation. To see the low sun through the small, south facing, dormer window. I could easily compare the view through the glass. Or with the window open. 

 Of course it quickly clouded over again. Still well worth setting everything up I think. I could practice my solar imaging in white light. In some comfort and with everything easily to hand. No traipsing back and forth with forgotten items. To the far side of the parking area. Just to see the sun fleetingly over the absent neighbour's trees. 

 The telescope can be set up and simply left in place. There are months of cold weather ahead. Why not give it a try? I can add the H-alpha components as and when it would be worthwhile. Hopefully with long hours of sunshine to make the adjustments more relaxing. 

 The afternoon sky was leaden. I had everything set up on the landing. So I captured an ash tree at 100m rocking in the wind. Showing some very fine detail despite the heavy overcast. Then I stacked the video for a bit of practice with the software.

 Before closing down I remembered to return the telescope to its parking position. Pointing at the N-pole. Had I left it looking out of the window. The sun could have come out and caused overheating or even a fire. The AM5N mount likes to be sent Home at the end of each session. Before switch off. Press the lower button on the paddle for a few seconds. Then wait for all movement of the mounting and telescope to finish. 

 Here is my blog post from 2019 showing the use of SharpCap Pro to align the mounting on the sun:

 Fullerscopes Telescope Mountings: Whoopee! Polar alignment using SharpCap and the Sun!

 Direct link to the YT video: 

 https://youtu.be/zRT-HsRsftI?si=PXf6JDm0mVVcCONK

 A later YouTube guide to drift [Polar] alignment on the sun.  Note the use of coloured reticules/reticles for fine adjustment. This is an additional step not show in the first video. 

 https://youtu.be/pw_xfPW4nYQ?si=Kh74Q_xi0CjsKAne

NOTE: You will need an astro camera attached to the telescope with approved solar filtration. 

  ~*~