Good morning all, here is my first Caturday post this week we are looking at Luca

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

My brother Dave and our dad

Time for another post about the human eye, this week we are looking at the iris, I’m sure we all know that the iris is part of our eyes but how many know its purpose or how it’s made up.

Light has to enter the eye in order for us to see, too much light can damage the eye, but too little light means we can’t see clearly. The eye has its own built-in mechanism for regulating this, the iris.

The iris is made up of two sets of muscle fibres; there is the radial muscles that run from the outside edge of the iris towards the centre. Then there are the circular muscles that form the inner rim of the iris and are arranged is a series of rings.

These muscles contract in response to signals from the brain, when one contracts the other relaxes, we cannot make them contract by thinking about it, they just do it when needed. Controlling the size of the iris controls how much light enters the eye.

The radial and circular muscles have opposite effects, when the circular muscles contract they pull the radial muscles inward, shrinking the size of the pupil, when the radical muscles contract they pull the circular muscles outwards the size of the pupil increases.

So, in normal light they are balanced, when in bright light they contract and in dim light they increase.

The drops that are put in your eyes when they are being checked cause the pupil to enlarge making it easier for them to be examined.

When you think about New Zealand what do you think of?

Many would think of the Kiwi, so this week’s creature is the kiwi.

It is a flightless bird native to New Zealand, they are small to medium-sized bird with a round body, long slender bill, and coarse, hair-like feathers that give them a shaggy look. Unlike most birds, kiwis have nostrils at the tip of their beak, which helps them sniff out food like insects, worms, and berries. Their wings are tiny and hidden under their feathers, making them completely flightless. Kiwis also have strong legs and claws for digging and running, but they’re quite shy and rarely seen during the day.

They are found in forests, scrubland, and grassland across New Zealand’s North, South, and Stewart Islands. They are nocturnal, preferring to forage for food at night. Kiwis are solitary animals, coming together only to mate. They are known for their keen sense of smell and their ability to detect prey underground.

The kiwi lays one of the largest eggs in proportion to its body size of any bird species. The female lays a single egg, which can weigh up to 20% of her body weight. The male usually incubates the egg for about 75 days, and once the chick hatches, it is fully feathered and independent within a few days.

Due to habitat loss and predators like stoats, dogs, and cats, they have declined significantly. Conservation efforts are ongoing to ensure the survival of these iconic birds.

The kiwi is more than just a bird in New Zealand—it’s a national symbol. New Zealanders are often colloquially referred to as “Kiwis,” and the bird features on coins, emblems, and sports teams’ uniforms. They represent uniqueness, resilience, and a strong connection to the land.

As most will know that early in December Tim & I went on a short holiday, so I decided to kick of my Monday’s post with information about some the places we visited then.

Let’s start with the Parkes Observatory, which can be found on the outskirts of the town of Parkes in New South Wales, it is where “The Dish” is located.

If you are wondering what the dish is well it’s a 64-metre radio telescope, it was officially opened on 31/10/1961. The facility is managed by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and was constructed in collaboration with both Australian and international experts. Its 64-metre diameter radio telescope was, at the time, one of the largest and most advanced in the world.

The observatory is perhaps best known for its role in relaying television signals of the Apollo 11 moon landing to the world in July 1969. This historic event was dramatised in the popular Australian film “The Dish,” cementing Parkes’ place in space exploration history, back in 2000.

The telescope only receives signals from space and never sends them.

The observatory is open to the public and features a visitor center with interactive displays, a café, and the opportunity to view the dish up close. Educational programs and guided tours are available, making it a popular destination for school groups, science enthusiasts, and travellers passing through regional New South Wales.

Here are some statistics

Dish Diameter: 64 metres (210 feet)

Surface Accuracy: Maintained to within 1 millimetre (after upgrades)

Height: Approximately 55 metres from ground to top of the dish when vertical

Weight: The moving part of the telescope weighs about 1,000 tonnes

Frequency Range: 700 MHz to 26 GHz (after multiple upgrades)

Current Receivers: Multi-beam and single-pixel receivers for various radio frequencies

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/12/share-your-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/12/last-hodgepodge-of-2025.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2025/12/tuesday-4.html

Hello 2026, I hoped you are a good one for me and my family and all those who read this, and all the bloggers I follow.

A I take a moment to reflect on the year gone by, I cherish the good memories, hope I have learnt from the challenges, and celebrate any achievements, if I had any as I write this I can’t think of any.

The new year is a blank canvas, ready for all of us to decorate with new adventures, goals, and dreams.

I hope this new year brings you joy, good health, and endless moments of happiness. May every challenge you face turn into an opportunity, and may every day offer something to smile about.

In order to make the year as stressless as possible remember to try and set realistic goals and focus on progress rather than perfection.

Remember self-care should be a priority, and connecting with others can help keep us on track even when life feels like we are riding a speeding roller-coaster.

We all need to embrace flexibility as things often don’t go according to plan. When this happens take a breath make adjustments and carry on.

If it all feels too much and overwhelming and you’re struggling with your mental health, don’t hesitate to seek help.