Solstice sun 21 June 2023

[Averton (P and C)]

It took some time for the clouds to clear this morning so we didn't get to start until late, after 10am. The SSM showed the seeing wasn't great but initially there were some dips below 1 arc second so we set up the 6" SCT for some 540nm close ups. The first one AR3335 was quite good, the next two headed downhill, the remainders went to the bin! We then took a full disk mosaic in 393nm and finally started to take some Ha images. We only managed a full disk before some clouds reappeared.

Close observers of the Ha mosaic will notice there is an 8 minute gap between the first panel and the second panel. This is due to a new to us solar astronomy nuisance, anthropological seismic disturbances, otherwise known as road works. The back story is that the council have been digging up and working on our street for about 6 months and are now compacting a new surface with a vibrating roller which turned our scope into a seismograph With the clouds and the roller there was no point trying for any further images.
The sun certainly put on a good display for the winter solstice with 10 or more active regions and some impressive proms on the eastern limb.

[Averton (P and C)]

Remaining images.

[PhilTas (Phil)]

I drrrovvve one of those rrollerrss once when I was much younger.

You can feel the vibrations through the ground for some distance.

Awesome images as always.

Cheers Phil

[Averton (P and C)]

Originally Posted by PhilTas

I drrrovvve one of those rrollerrss once when I was much younger.

You can feel the vibrations through the ground for some distance.

Awesome images as always.

Cheers Phil

Thanks Phil.
We had wondered what on earth it would be like to drive the thing and how long you'd last before damaging yourself. It seems that you survived the experience, which is excellent. Our particular team of workers have not finished with the roller work yet so we still have more shaking in store. That is of course if this rotten weather actually clears enough to see the sun again anyway

[Dennis]

Lovely series Clare and Peter, marking the shortest day/longest night in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hope the compacting finishes soon!

Cheers

Dennis

[Averton (P and C)]

Originally Posted by Dennis

Lovely series Clare and Peter, marking the shortest day/longest night in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hope the compacting finishes soon!

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis.
Unfortunately the road workers still have a bit to go. After 6 months of it we're a bit past it and we are now promised that it should be finished in another two weeks. Hard to believe when it's already so far over time.