24.04.2026 White light solar observing.

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  Desite having hurt my back a week ago I dragged the new rig outside. Hoping to do some solar observing in white light. I did not connect the mini-PC. Just used the paddle. First I tried the Lunt 1.25" solar wedge. Then I fitted the Lacerta 2". Which provides dimming by rotation of the EP holder. A started with a single Meade 4000 26mm EP. Then my 2x Shorty Barlow, Zoom EP and finally TE binoviewers and a pair of 26mm EPs. 

 The latter was by far the most satisfying set-up. The sky was milky but no visible cloud crossing the sun. The seeing was mostly very soft  but with moments of tantalizing, razor sharpness. Most of the time I was focusing in and out. Just trying to get a sharper image. When there was literally none to be found. I did not bother to use my mobile phone to capture the fuzzy image. Nor bring out the ZWO 174MM. Which would have required a screen and mouse mat.

 Earlier plans to have a permanent pier in front of the greenhouse were never progressed. The endless cloud and cold wind did not give way to sunshine until this last week. I only had an hour free this morning before leaving for a heart scan at the city hospital. I still have plans to put one of my piers in the front garden. Unfortunately I hurt my back playing with heavy paving slabs a week ago. So I can't possibly manage moving the massive weight of any of my three piers. Each of which needs different adaptation to the ZWO AM5N base.

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1st April 2026 MkIV packing and parcel delivery delay.

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 UPDATE: 22nd April: Two of the parcels reached the recipient. The third, in the foreground of the image below has only just arrived after three weeks. Damaged at both ends but the contents remained intact. Largely thanks to my taping the axis shafts to the MkIV's huge, saddle casting. I also fixed the locking collars to the ends of the shafts. Even so both ends of the parcel were punctured.

 Wednesday 1st April. Sunny. I have been outside packing the MkIV for its trip back to Blighty.

Having taken the whole thing apart. So I was able to tape the main shafts and cradle together. Then place it in a long, narrow box with padding. I was hoping to avoid the heavy shafts shooting out of the box and causing damage. Taping the parts together also increases the cross sectional area. I also taped the box thoroughly. To avoid penetration. This parcel came to 14kg. So just under the 15kg postage step.

 The rest of MkIV just fits into an old banana box. However it came to just over 21kg once I had added lightweight packing materials.

 The weight limit is 20kg for handing packages into parcel centres in Denmark. So I will have to lighten the second parcel and make up a small third.

 16.30 I have just delivered the three parcels to the parcel office in the village. 2 x15kg and one of 10kg. 

 

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