Search found 385 matches

by RodAstro
Thu Nov 23, 2023 1:26 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?
Replies: 20
Views: 1070

Re: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?

Sorry I should have put the last corona image.

Rod
by RodAstro
Thu Nov 23, 2023 1:23 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?
Replies: 20
Views: 1070

Re: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?

Personally I think the Celestron 6.3 reducer at£120 new will do the trick, no way could you get another scope and camera to do this for that price. Remember this is only going to be used occasionally during a total solar eclipse, maybe only once. The reducer will do the job of fitting in the whole s...
by RodAstro
Wed Nov 15, 2023 6:41 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?
Replies: 20
Views: 1070

Re: Using a focal reducer with a C9.25 and DSLR to image eclipses?

Hi If you are getting good information across the wide plane of the chip then a focal reducer will give you the same information across the short plane of the chip. The information across the wide plane will all still be there as before only smaller. The only place you may get noticeable vignetting ...
by RodAstro
Thu Nov 09, 2023 10:51 am
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: Help with Solar Scout 60 (with reducer)
Replies: 5
Views: 1823

Re: Help with Solar Scout 60 (with reducer)

Hi does look like tilt. Rotate the camera and reducer together and if flare stays in the same place on the chip then the tilt is with the reducer or the camera, most likely the reducer lens. If the flare moves around the sun as you rotate then the problem is in the scope. The reducers are assembled ...
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 08, 2023 9:34 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: ZWO SeeStar S50
Replies: 25
Views: 10635

Re: ZWO SeeStar S50

Hi Have a look on the Seestar 50 facebook page at Chai Chen Yee 29 June at 12:24 and you can see how they beat the light pollution on some objects. Personally I think it is a nice little scope, it seems like it can catch better data than the other like scopes and lets you do more with the processing...
by RodAstro
Sun May 28, 2023 8:44 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: AR3315 Close Up 850nm 5 | 27 | 23
Replies: 4
Views: 355

Re: AR3315 Close Up 850nm 5 | 27 | 23

Hi Nice image. I have just acquired a similar filter so will have to have a go with it. I don't like to put a spanner in the works but after sharpening the image quite a lot I notice the bright points are in nearly horizontal lines. My take on this is they may be something to do with the camera prob...
by RodAstro
Wed Mar 29, 2023 8:12 pm
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: Etalon problems
Replies: 7
Views: 1549

Re: Etalon problems

Hi Seems to me you have four options. Firstly get a secondhand PST to replace your broken etalon, you have high likelihood of finding one cheap with worn out filters. Second is get a Quark, generally they they are good and a good dealer will sort you a good one. Third is as suggested a Lunt 40 and h...
by RodAstro
Wed Mar 22, 2023 10:12 am
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: Lichtenknecker Ha 150/3600 (F24) first step
Replies: 7
Views: 1461

Re: Lichtenknecker Ha 150/3600 (F24) first step

Hi
It looks very nice, super machining.
Just one question, the three center sections look to be assembled back to front, am I correct?

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:47 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Difference between Registax, AS!3, ImPPG and others
Replies: 39
Views: 1722

Re: Difference between Registax and ImPPG

Hi
Turn off the deconvolution in IMPPG that is what causes the dimpled noisy background, it tries to make something out of nothing.
It also destroys the spicules.
If I use deconvolution I always try it at the end of the processing in IMPPG and use it very sparingly if at all.

Rod
by RodAstro
Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:30 pm
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: sweet spot and f/d effect
Replies: 22
Views: 3909

Re: sweet spot and f/d effect

Hi Rusted No you are not confused Just my explanation, or lack of. The front lens of the reducer is only 30mm and the rear lens is only 25mm so using a large etalon may be vignetted by the reducer if it is in forward position before the collimated beam. It will fit in the rear position no problem as...
by RodAstro
Sat Nov 19, 2022 8:15 pm
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: sweet spot and f/d effect
Replies: 22
Views: 3909

Re: sweet spot and f/d effect

Hi Rusted I'm not sure how I would measure the focal length as it has a strange lens design for cameras to keep the original lens at the same focus for infinity. For a camera it is rated at 0.72 reduction but in a telescope it all depends on where you put it in the light path. All I can say is with ...
by RodAstro
Fri Nov 18, 2022 8:03 pm
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: sweet spot and f/d effect
Replies: 22
Views: 3909

Re: sweet spot and f/d effect

Hi Just to add a little to this thread that may help others. My f15 Zeiss 6" has to long a focal length to work with my Quark as my seeing is not very capable of supporting f60 or 9,450mm focal length. So I had a look at focal reducers and as Rusted says you loose a lot of back focus but I had ...
by RodAstro
Fri Sep 02, 2022 8:33 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Quark mystery
Replies: 11
Views: 525

Re: Quark mystery

Hi The rear filter after the etalon is just a R60 red filter to remove any stray light. The front Andover filter is a blocker/comb filter that picks out the Ha peak, that is why the combo has to have one they don't work without one. The combo has to have a larger filter so it can work with F15 and u...
by RodAstro
Thu Aug 18, 2022 9:40 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Skywatcher Startravel 102mm
Replies: 12
Views: 564

Re: Skywatcher Startravel 102mm

I like my ST102. It Is my potable scope so it is a nice no worries scope very durable. The focuser is adequate for rough focusing I then use a 1.25 helical focuser after the Quark for fine focus, in this position the helical works like a 10-1 fine focuser because of the telecentric beam. Afraid I do...
by RodAstro
Mon Aug 15, 2022 4:31 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: first image what would you improve (couple tiffs added for anyone to play with)
Replies: 33
Views: 1120

Re: first image what would you improve (couple tiffs added for anyone to play with)

Hi I had a go Yes image is really noisy probably to much gain, I did the opposite in ImPPG and backed off to smooth out the noise. I then used unsharp mask in Ps6 with a bit of threshold so I didn't resharpen the noise, I tend to over do the unsharp mask so then use Gaussian blur to bring it back a ...
by RodAstro
Mon Aug 15, 2022 2:02 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Is imaging the sun still within reach?
Replies: 53
Views: 2471

Re: Is imaging the sun still within reach?

Hi Valery I Can't afford your "relaxed" and "lazy" style of observing" and I think many of us are below that level. We do what we do and enjoy it. I think "lazy" sounds a bit harsh in English, but I understand that may be due to translation. Sometimes we have to st...
by RodAstro
Sun Aug 14, 2022 3:53 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Is imaging the sun still within reach?
Replies: 53
Views: 2471

Re: Is imaging the sun still within reach?

I remember years ago being at a star party with one of the very first Chinese 6" refractors, lots of interest as at that time it looked massive. Anyway in the astro boot sale I bought a Meade variable polarizer, that night I tried it in the refractor and because of the extra extension I could n...
by RodAstro
Sun Aug 14, 2022 3:09 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My Quark on a hot day
Replies: 6
Views: 342

Re: My Quark on a hot day

Hi Thanks all for having a look. I just thought it was interesting that as global temperatures change then we are all going to have to re calibrate our mica heated etalons or buy new ones to work in the new temperature ranges. The chromosphere image above was taken without the Quark heated, no power...
by RodAstro
Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:13 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My Quark on a hot day
Replies: 6
Views: 342

My Quark on a hot day

Hi Yesterday after a bit of imaging whilst on holiday in Wales UK I started packing away, camera, leads and computer. Then put the bino head back on for a final look and noticed the image was a little off band on one side so went to re tune and the light was out, my little USB battery pack had turne...
by RodAstro
Mon Aug 01, 2022 8:19 pm
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: First images with our new Ha set up 29 July 2022
Replies: 12
Views: 2469

Re: First images with our new Ha set up 29 July 2022

Hi Clare & Peter That looks very nice and is performing well. I would say try it without the Baader 35nm I find mine makes the image soft and slows the exposure times because of the loss of light through the Baader. When you think about it the Andover blocker in the Quark is cheaper than the Baa...
by RodAstro
Sun Jul 24, 2022 10:23 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???
Replies: 15
Views: 734

Re: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???

The problem with the ZWO ASI174mm is I think there is no cold finger from the back of the chip to the casing so very little heat transfer to the casing making the passive cooling not very effective even with a 3" fan to cool the heat sink. For me a stand alone USB fan of 5" had more effect...
by RodAstro
Sun Jul 24, 2022 9:59 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: First Light
Replies: 11
Views: 386

Re: First Light

Hi Bill
Try ImPPG to sharpen the image and add some contrast, it's a free download.
That image sharpens up nicely and shows some cak detail

Rod
by RodAstro
Wed Jul 20, 2022 10:04 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???
Replies: 15
Views: 734

Re: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???

Hi Kevin I just tested the ZWO 174mm for one hour running off some 5000 frame captures. Ambient temperature was 23.6°C Fire Capture reported a maximum temperature of 47.8°C at the chip The Casing of the camera only got to 30°C taken with a IR thermometer So quite a small transfer of heat to the came...
by RodAstro
Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:36 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???
Replies: 15
Views: 734

Re: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???

Hi Kevin

I will check the temp in Fire Capture of my ASI174mm and post to compare.
It may just be the PGR camera is better at removing the heat to the casing than the ZWO camera is.
If that is the case then some sort of cooling could help.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Wed Jul 20, 2022 8:30 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Couple of nice prom areas 19-7-22
Replies: 7
Views: 308

Re: Couple of nice prom areas 19-7-22

Hi
Thanks everyone for the interest and kind words.

Yep correct Alexandra SE nothing above where the large prom was and the other picture of the large prom was at SW but short lived.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Tue Jul 19, 2022 8:07 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???
Replies: 15
Views: 734

Re: Heat sink / cooling fins on hot camera???

Hi If you do this you will need a fan to remove the heat from the heat sink, even then it made little difference on my ZWO ASI174. In this hot weather the heat sink actually heats the camera up. I found a little desktop USB fan not attached to the camera but blowing over it was more effective, accor...
by RodAstro
Tue Jul 19, 2022 7:43 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Couple of nice prom areas 19-7-22
Replies: 7
Views: 308

Couple of nice prom areas 19-7-22

Hi
I just thought I would post these for those who didn't get to see them.
A bit of a hazy day so a bit of red background but still interesting.

Taken with my 150mm f15 Zeiss, Quark Chromo and ASI 174

Enjoy Rod
by RodAstro
Mon Jul 04, 2022 10:23 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Baader 35nm 2”
Replies: 3
Views: 1266

Re: Baader 35nm 2”

Hi I would say you should be ok with the UV/IR on a 127, I have used the same for the past two years on my 150. It's only useful to protect the Quarks front blocking filter and make it last longer. I bought a Baader 35nm 2" and found quite a loss of light so I don't use it for imaging as it slo...
by RodAstro
Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:52 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Granulation study with various filters (540-395 nm)
Replies: 11
Views: 599

Re: Granulation study with various filters (540-395 nm)

Hi Very interesting. I have been trying to image the granules with little success on both my 6" Zeiss refractor with Zeiss WL filters and my 10"SCT but only have 0.5 Baader film full aperture, also using continuum and OIII filters at the camera. I can see the granules easy enough so it mus...
by RodAstro
Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:58 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

By the way Clare and Peter if you would like to have a look through the exact same scope as mine the observatory at the Brisbane Planetarium has one for public use. It's the only one I know of in the west open to the public. As far as I know mine is one of three in private hands in the world and onl...
by RodAstro
Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:28 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

Yep The Zeiss is awesome to have Sadly I built the observatory on the wrong side of the house for solar 16 years ago, its the best place for night time but I can only get the sun from 11am onwards so seeing is not the best. With my lead filled pier it weights in at nearly 2ton and then there is the ...
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:26 pm
Forum: SPoD Archive
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 15
Views: 1326

Re: Best solar image to date

I have added the link to Corono in the solar software section so all can find it easily.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:26 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 14
Views: 513

Re: Best solar image to date

I have added the link to Corono in the solar software section so all can find it easily.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:21 pm
Forum: Solar Software
Topic: Corono Software
Replies: 0
Views: 1218

Corono Software

Hi all

I thought I would just put this link in hear as I keep loosing it or should I say forgetting it :lol:

It's a excellent piece of simple to use software

http://sweiller.free.fr/Softwares/Corono/corono.html

Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:13 pm
Forum: SPoD Archive
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 15
Views: 1326

Re: Best solar image to date

Thanks for the link Clare and Peter

Could I find it on google :evil:
And couldn't get a message to Sylvain Weiller because of Microsoft messaging problems.
Then when I opened your link I found I already had it in my bookmarks :lol:

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:13 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 14
Views: 513

Re: Best solar image to date

Thanks for the link Clare and Peter

Could I find it on google :evil:
And couldn't get a message to Sylvain Weiller because of Microsoft messaging problems.
Then when I opened your link I found I already had it in my bookmarks :lol:

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 5:57 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

Hi Clare and Peter You have a good focuser there, and a nice measuring setup, I think I will need a ruler not a dial gauge to measure my run out. This is the second SS60DS I have had the first one was even worse, maybe Daystar are getting a handle on the QC with this scope and machining is improving...
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 7:44 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

Hi Derek I had read your posts just not put two and two together. That's a very neat build and very sturdy. Do you have any problems with your Quark flexing, I have mentioned in previous posts that the anti-tamper screw that holds the red etalon part to the telecentric unit is not the best design an...
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:28 am
Forum: SPoD Archive
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 15
Views: 1326

Re: Best solar image to date

Hi Andy
I have sent you an email
Yep sadly Corono seems to have disappeared but I am just messaging the writers to see if it is possible to get it somewhere.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Sat Jul 02, 2022 6:28 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 14
Views: 513

Re: Best solar image to date

Hi Andy
I have sent you an email
Yep sadly Corono seems to have disappeared but I am just messaging the writers to see if it is possible to get it somewhere.

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:36 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

Hi Oak The 60DS is a normal Quark with a 4.2 x telecentric, the edge of the etalon is just masked off a bit more than the stand alone Quark maybe to hide some edge defects but still has a throughput big enough for a ASI174 chip. I would have though the Lunt etalon behind the Quark would work very si...
by RodAstro
Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:17 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 14
Views: 513

Re: Best solar image to date

Hi Andy That's an awesome image, loads of detail and very dramatic. What scope did you use? My only suggestion is for cropping the disk, is to use Corono a freeware program for creating coronagraph type images. First open your image in Corono and create an image that blacks out the proms by selectin...
by RodAstro
Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:17 pm
Forum: SPoD Archive
Topic: Best solar image to date
Replies: 15
Views: 1326

Re: Best solar image to date

Hi Andy That's an awesome image, loads of detail and very dramatic. What scope did you use? My only suggestion is for cropping the disk, is to use Corono a freeware program for creating coronagraph type images. First open your image in Corono and create an image that blacks out the proms by selectin...
by RodAstro
Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:12 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS
Replies: 32
Views: 1244

Re: Early morning sun Daystar SS60DS

Thanks Eric, I was pleased to get that good a result. Hi Clare and Peter That's exactly the setup I have been thinking of with a Lunt 40 for full disks, nice to see someone has done it. It seems to give a lot of contrast, and excellent filaproms, I was just wondering how it is visually in comparison...
by RodAstro
Mon Jun 27, 2022 7:25 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Animation of NW Limb 6/24/2022
Replies: 12
Views: 404

Re: Animation of NW Limb 6/24/2022

Awesome Warren
Very relaxing to watch

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Mon Jun 27, 2022 7:17 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: FDs in Ha and CaK 25th June 2022
Replies: 11
Views: 388

Re: FDs in Ha and CaK 25th June 2022

also sold as Skywatcher as well

Cheers Rod
by RodAstro
Mon Jun 27, 2022 7:15 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: FDs in Ha and CaK 25th June 2022
Replies: 11
Views: 388

Re: FDs in Ha and CaK 25th June 2022

Nice images Stu

Just a tip for the Omega filters, they fit perfectly into the 1.25 plastic moon filter fittings that are supplied with scopes like cheap Celestrons.
You may need to protect the plastic though.
by RodAstro
Mon Jun 27, 2022 6:55 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20220627) | GOOD seeing (video added)
Replies: 18
Views: 874

Re: Today's SUN (20220627) | GOOD seeing

lovely pics Pedro I had a go at the spot area this afternoon in White light but no luck even with the Zeiss and its 160mm Zeiss glass solar filter, I can see the granules easily but seeing prevents me imaging them. I also have the Zeiss Photo filter but it is to bright for the ASI174 and fire captur...