Richard Gifford:
I totally understand. I'm in the UK (East coast) and so far in 2024, there has been only 1 totaly clear night (though that was also affected by late fog) and 2 other nights that were ok but not totally clrear.
I don't think we'll ever get another completely clear night, this seems to be how it is now and I'm told is due to climate change so is only going to get even worse.
I'll give it till the end of this year and if it doesn't improve then will sell everything and do something else.
I wouldn't want to own an astronomy shop in the UK
Studies have been done that indicate clouds form by seeding from cosmic radiation. We've been in a solar minimum phase for a while, and are only just now starting to climb out of that into the beginnings of solar activity for Solar Cycle 25 (SC25). Additional studies have been done that indicate that matter from the sun, particularly from CMEs, "sweeps away" cosmic radiation, causing something called a Forbush Decrease (a reduction in cosmic radiation), which can reduce cloud levels by about 2%. During solar maximum, when solar activity peaks, CMEs and other flare related activity (and particulate from the sun) can increase dramatically, having a pronounced effect on reducing cloudcover.
We are only in the mere beginnings of the increase in solar activity for SC25. It is supposed to peak around 2026 or so. If these studies are correct, that clouds are primarily seeded by cosmic radiation and that a Forbush Decrease will reduce cloud cover, then in the coming years, notably near peak and a year or so after as high solar activity begins to settle, then that is good news for astrophotographers. It should mean that we see a progressive then marked decrease in cloud cover, and a period of time of less cloudcover, before SC25 declines and we fall back into solar minimum.
There are some other factors, and the interleave of solar cycles with the lunar cycle (there IS a lunar cycle!! it is approximately 18.6 years long, vs. the 11 year sunspot cycle or 21 year solar cycles (which overlap in pairs to produce the 11-year sunspot sycle)). Depending on the exact nature of how the solar and lunar cycles are interleaved, that may affect exactly how weather pans out during SC25's peak in 2026/2027. Additionally, there are also the decadal oscillations of the pacific and atlantic oceans, which also has an impact. I honestly don't know of any studies that try to collate the effects of ALL of these cycles together, so I can't really speculate on exactly how SC25 will pan out at peak. I do hope, however, that it will result in a reduction of cloudcover thanks to an increased amount of FDs.
I remember the last solar cycle peak. SC24 was a bi-modal cycle, peaking in late 2012 and again in 2014. There was a lull in 2013, although activity was still higher than solar minimums. I started AP in late 2012, and really got into it in 2014. The amount of clear nights back in 2013, 2014 and 2015 was off the charts, compared to any time since. I would have to say 2014 and 2015 were the best years I've ever seen.
There is a growing effort to study the effects of cosmic radiation on clouds, as well as study of the effects of solar activity on cloudcover. I would keep an eye on that stuff, as the next few years should be quite telling as to how much these factors affect weather and climate.
) that have yet to be processed. So between DSO or solar projects, I've got something to do during the summer months, or when we're going through a clear sky drought.
Always makes me feel better...
. I do have two rigs - reflector / refractor and split them for some time periods over the year. Have them completely ready, mounted under the pergola (just covered by some tarp)..this way I can maximize my imaging time. Lucky I´m strong enough to carry the weight by myself for about 5 meters the the designated spot on my backyard. Our dogs always ready tu assist and get under my feet 
Of course I live in Bortle 5 area so it has certain disadvantages as you can imagine. But I´m very flexible about imaging this way.
