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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 26, 2014 3:06:07 GMT
So I'm wanting to put my toe in the water with solar for outreach. I'm pretty cautious with the sun, so I don't want to invest too much in case damage ensues and this is video only. No peeps looking thru the scope. I'm fine starting with white light and getting comfortable before going Ha. I would like to see prominences tho.
I'm thinking 127mm Mak + Baeder Filter + Mallincam Micro + IR Cut Filter.
What would you recommend?
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Post by johnno on Sept 26, 2014 11:32:42 GMT
Rick I personally would go with the ED80 and try your ASI camera, I think the mak will be too much.
I've lost my white light capture images and all the rest when my hard drive packed up, don't know if Ken took any captures when I was broadcasting, it would of given you a idea of the FOV with a ED80 and the I-nova camera which as the same sensor as your ASI
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 26, 2014 13:13:01 GMT
Yes John, I kept 18 screen grabs from your broadcast. All identical, worth stacking. But yeah, the Mak would be too close-up to give good rersults. But the ED80 is perfect with and without a Focal Reducer for different FOV. Here's your Solar Image showing the FOV. Just under half a degree:
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 26, 2014 13:14:44 GMT
Rick, I could be missing something new in the industry, but I have never seen a White light Glass Filter show Proms. Only sunspots and granulation. The only proms I have ever seen are from Solar Scopes.
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 26, 2014 13:32:19 GMT
Here ya go John, I stacked about 8 of your frames: and then gave it some really heavy processing in photoshop
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 26, 2014 13:39:27 GMT
Ken, no you aren't missing anything. Proms wont show in white light -- I've seen some in CaK but most in Ha. So you need a Ha capable scope. I didnt word that last bit very well... I meant I'm fine if I have to do white light, but darn I wish I could see prominences.
I get what you guys are saying on the Mak, I think its something like F10 and if you pair that with the Micro or the ASI it would be a very small field of view. Thanks for the images, I certainly could use my 80APO ... I guess I'm just nervous about damage. Maybe I should just jump into a Ha dedicated scope? For something decent, looks like I'd be in for $700-$1000 US?
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 26, 2014 14:26:22 GMT
Rick, you can't harm your ED80 by doing solar. Even if the filter fell off the front the only thing the sun would melt is the sensor in your camera But the front lens of the scope, or the scope itself won't be harmed. But if you try it, don't make the same mistake I made the first time I did solar (even though it was visual). I forgot to cover the front lens of the Finderscope!!! I smelt smoke, like burning plastic Boy O Boy the eyepiece end of Finderscopes melt well I use a J.M.B Identiview White Glass Filter. www.identi-view.com/caremain.html(their website sucks)
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Post by johnno on Sept 26, 2014 15:03:26 GMT
Thanks ken, they don't look to bad
I'm after a solar scope, most likely will go for the new Lunt 50 when it finally comes out in October so they say. I reckon it will be in your price bracket
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 26, 2014 15:29:47 GMT
Thanks ken, they don't look to bad I'm after a solar scope, most likely will go for the new Lunt 50 when it finally comes out in October so they say. I reckon it will be in your price bracket I don't have a price bracket John. I don't have 10 cents to spend on Astro Gear. Unless that comment was meant for Rick
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 26, 2014 22:36:23 GMT
Thanks for that advice Ken.... Noooo melting!!!
Looks like there's quite a line for the LS 50!
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Oct 30, 2014 21:20:33 GMT
I received my Astrozap baader film solar filter, so hopefully I'll have some clear skies this weekend to test it out.
I have been swamped by other obligations or by clouds these past few weekends; I miss getting out and broadcasting.
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 31, 2014 9:57:16 GMT
I have been swamped by other obligations or by clouds these past few weekends; I miss getting out and broadcasting. Me too Cloud, rain, cloud, oh . . and did I say cloud? Parts of Australia are already having 40+ degree heatwave, and bushfires are springing up all over, and it's still only Spring! We have had 5 bushfires here in my town in the last week!!!! But these damn clouds just won't go away
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Nov 3, 2014 18:35:43 GMT
I admit my ignorance of your weather, but 40 seems awfully hot for what is mid Spring there, yes? Back in the day, I had conversations with a cutie from Adelade. Kate was her name. It got awfully hot there.
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Post by Dragon Man on Nov 4, 2014 4:17:51 GMT
Yes Rick, 40 is way over the average for this time of year. Our heatwave normally doesn't start till about Mid January into February. Start of summer is still a month away. They are predicting a loooong hot dry summer and possibly a few years of drought again. Geez, it was only 3 years ago we finally came out of an 11 year drought I have noticed that all the Farmers have changed crops this year from grain crops to Chaff and Hay grasses ready to get through the long hot years ahead. They were caught out last time and all the stored hay ran out in about 3 years. They spent the next 8 years with none and the stock that didn't die was sold at 10% their price and sent overseas. The last 3 years has been a boom time with all the rain we have had, but it has ended. The countryside is already turning brown and dusty and this is supposed to be Spring! They are harvesting the hay now before it all dies. I've even grown Hay grass in my paddocks for the locals that need it. I don't keep stock any more so I won't need it.
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Post by davy on Nov 4, 2014 18:37:42 GMT
Well done ken helping out the neighbours. .good to see and hear still a community spirit around.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Nov 4, 2014 21:43:16 GMT
Uggh, horrible times ahead, it sounds like. Sorry that's happening.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 9, 2015 17:10:14 GMT
Rick, you can't harm your ED80 by doing solar. Even if the filter fell off the front the only thing the sun would melt is the sensor in your camera But the front lens of the scope, or the scope itself won't be harmed. But if you try it, don't make the same mistake I made the first time I did solar (even though it was visual). I forgot to cover the front lens of the Finderscope!!! I smelt smoke, like burning plastic Boy O Boy the eyepiece end of Finderscopes melt well I use a J.M.B Identiview White Glass Filter. www.identi-view.com/caremain.html(their website sucks) So rookie question here - is it just a case of a solar filter on the end of the scope and that's it? I don't want to hijack your topic Rick but I would rather not start a new topic just to ask this question either. Will the SW Esprit 100ED, solar filter & Mallincam be OK? I bought the solar filter to give me some more time with the Mallincam software. This is my solar filter - www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/seymour-solar-sf575-575-type-2-glass-solar-filter.html Thanks in advance. Harry.
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Post by johnno on Sept 9, 2015 22:09:14 GMT
Yes Harry that's all you need and make sure it's securely fitted, I suppose you have a sol finder or similar as you can't use your normal view finder unless you have a solar filter fitted to it as well and if your using miloslick make sure to set the exposure to video
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 10, 2015 10:49:35 GMT
Yes Harry that's all you need and make sure it's securely fitted, I suppose you have a sol finder or similar as you can't use your normal view finder unless you have a solar filter fitted to it as well and if your using miloslick make sure to set the exposure to video Yeah, don't make the same mistake I did with the finderscope How I do mine is I look at the shadow on the ground and I get it as near as possible to straight on (if you know what I mean). So the shadow of the scope and finderscope are round, not oval. That tells me it is pointing directly at the sun (or very very close). When I look at my Monitor the Sun is usually somewhere within the FOV using this method. Another method I used to use, but it broke and I haven't made another one yet, is by putting an empty pen casing into a laser pointer bracket and line it up on something distant. Then mount a small flat surface behind the pen casing. The pen casing shadow will make a perfect 'O' on the flat surface when pointing at the sun
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 10, 2015 18:26:26 GMT
So rookie question here - is it just a case of a solar filter on the end of the scope and that's it? I don't want to hijack your topic Rick but I would rather not start a new topic just to ask this question either. Will the SW Esprit 100ED, solar filter & Mallincam be OK? I bought the solar filter to give me some more time with the Mallincam software. This is my solar filter - www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/seymour-solar-sf575-575-type-2-glass-solar-filter.html Thanks in advance. Harry. Harry, Here are a couple pictures of my setup above from our last partial solar eclipse: I now have a dedicated solar finder, which works great. I always hold the mylar filter up to the sun to check for any small holes or tears that may have happened before I attach it to my scope. Lately, I have been using a filter wheel (not shown) with an IR, IR/UV, and Solar Continuum filter. This really helps getting a crisp image because the mylar white light filter will let thru IR which causes blurring / focusing challenges. I hope this helps! --Rick
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