Monthly archives: September, 2023

100 Solar Observations

I’ve been actively making Sunspot observations and submitting then to the BAA & AVVSO Solar databases since August 2022. But today, I made my 100th observation of the Sun. In the great scheme of Solar observing I guess this isn’t a particularly high number of observations, but it’s a milestone nonetheless. Things have changed over those 100 observations. The most dramatic of which is the accuracy and information recorded now. To illustrate this, there…


EAA Observing Session : 20 September

Session Data Date:  20/09/2023 Time:  19:28 – 22:20 UT Seeing: II. Good – Slight Transparency: II. Clear with some cloud Temp: 11.2C, Air Pressure: 998mb,  Humidity: 93%,  Dew Point: 10C,  Wind Speed: 4mph SQM:19.78 magn/arcsec^2 Scope: Altair 250mm RC f/5.3 Camera: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro, No Filter. Dark subtracted and Flat fielded. Session Notes:  North is to the top of the image in all these observations. I’m hoping this is going to make descriptions far…


EAA Observing Session: 17 September

Session Data Date:  17/09/2023 Time:  21:31 – 22:31 UT Seeing: II. Good – Slight Transparency: II. Clear with some cloud Temp: 14.3C, Air Pressure: 1005mb,  Humidity: 95%,  Dew Point: 13.3C,  Wind Speed: 9mph SQM:20.01 magn/arcsec^2 Scope: Altair 250mm RC f/5.3 Camera: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro, No Filter. Dark subtracted and Flat fielded. Session Notes:  Is this the shortest – but eventually a successful and satisfying – observing session ever. Open up observatory at 21:31UT. Take…


EAA Observing Session: 13 September

Session Data Date:  13/09/2023 Time:  19:46 – 00:34 UT Seeing: II. Good – Slight Transparency: II. Clear with some cloud Temp: 12.9C, Air Pressure: 1024mb,  Humidity: 86%,  Dew Point: 10.6C,  Wind Speed: 1mph SQM:20.05 magn/arcsec^2 Scope: Altair 250mm RC f/5.3 Camera: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro, No Filter. Dark subtracted and Flat fielded. Session Notes:  Second night in a row for some more EAA on SJM ‘Hidden Treasures’ Conditions have been OK this evening. No cloud…


EAA Observing Session: 12 September

Session Data Date:  12/09/2023 Time:  19:45 – 23:58 UT Seeing: II. Good – Slight Transparency: II. Clear with some cloud Temp: 12.6C, Air Pressure: 1021mb,  Humidity: 86%,  Dew Point: 10C,  Wind Speed: 7mph SQM: 20.22 magn/arcsec^2 Scope: Altair 250mm RC f/5.3 Camera: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro, No Filter. Dark subtracted and Flat fielded. Session Notes:  Doing a little EAA and going through Steve O’Meara’s ‘Hidden Treasures’ book. It is a little windy but the wind…


EAA Observing Session: 5 September

Session Data Date:  05/09/2023 Time:  21:18 – 03:07 UT Seeing: II. Good – Slight Transparency: III. Clear with slight haze Temp: 17.1C, Air Pressure: 1019mb,  Humidity: 94%,  Dew Point: 16.1C,  Wind Speed: 5mph SQM: 18.77 Scope: Altair 250mm RC f/5.3 Camera: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro, No Filter. Dark subtracted and Flat fielded. Session Notes:  Started this session with the scope in f/8 mode in the hope of doing some EAA while I wait for…