Search found 84 matches

by RKBerta
Mon Sep 04, 2023 5:45 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: SolarScout DS60 - Smudge
Replies: 9
Views: 606

Re: SolarScout DS60 - Smudge

Look at the ERF on the Daystar that is the optical element closest to the telescope. On mine it went bad....obvious when looking at it...looked like it had some sort of growth on the element. Called DS and they sent out a new ERF at no cost that is easily replaced if you have a lock ring wrench (che...
by RKBerta
Sat Sep 02, 2023 5:55 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sun FD in H-Alpha, CaK and Continuum September 2nd 2023
Replies: 12
Views: 435

Re: Sun FD in H-Alpha, CaK and Continuum September 2nd 2023

Nice collection of images as always. :hamster: I did Ha on 9-1-2023.
by RKBerta
Sun Jul 09, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Triband 8" vs AR 8" 06.07.
Replies: 15
Views: 889

Re: Triband 8" vs AR 8" 06.07.

Wow....very impressive results. Aligning all the mirrors, optics, etc. must have been "fun". Do you have a writeup of what went into the construction and various parts involved. I am sure that would be a much appreciated article.
by RKBerta
Sat Apr 22, 2023 7:38 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: 25 min timelapse of erupting prominence in H-Alpha on 18th of April 2023
Replies: 13
Views: 712

Re: 25 min timelapse of erupting prominence in H-Alpha on 18th of April 2023

Wonderful animation Arnie. :bow I have an AM5 mount also....VERY impressed with capabilities and with all ZWO gear and especially when paired with ASI AIR Plus for deep sky imaging.
IF it ever stops raining I hope to get some nice solar images myself.
by RKBerta
Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:47 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20230221)
Replies: 14
Views: 441

Re: Today's SUN (20230221)

Nice collection of images. We are just starting to warm up here in Michigan, USA. Overall a mild Fall and Winter but lots of overcast days. 10 degree F temps and heavy winds don't help. Spent the last month plus putting together a portable setup using a ZWO AM5 with ASI AIR Plus mount which is amazi...
by RKBerta
Fri Jun 17, 2022 8:56 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Congrats James Parton-DeepSolar64
Replies: 31
Views: 1020

Re: Congrats James Parton-DeepSolar64

Congrats....now you can up your game to an even higher level.
by RKBerta
Fri Jun 17, 2022 4:36 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: June 14th with different setup than my normal
Replies: 1
Views: 184

June 14th with different setup than my normal

Wanted to try my 6" APO Officina Stellare with a 5" aperture mask (don't have a ERF for that scope yet) with Quark Chromosphere and f 5.95 focal reduer. Had some spare time so thought I would try a very different (weird) setup than my normal. Seeing was just so-so but detail was interestin...
by RKBerta
Tue Jun 14, 2022 11:56 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20220612) | AR13030
Replies: 8
Views: 429

Re: Today's SUN (20220612) | AR13030

Very nice as always. :hamster: Have had a bunch of cloudy days or raining lately. Finally got out today with nice clear skies...30 minutes after turning everything on...completely clouded out. Took everything back down and two hours later it was clear again so did get some images....have to process ...
by RKBerta
Mon Apr 11, 2022 9:24 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20220410) DS FD images (BIG Filament)
Replies: 15
Views: 814

Re: Today's SUN (20220410) DS FD images (BIG Filament)

Terrific images. Hoping for our clouds to go away....at least it is starting warm up. :bow
by RKBerta
Fri Apr 08, 2022 4:03 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Keeping your cool
Replies: 15
Views: 582

Re: Keeping your cool

One setup uses an Astro Physics 1100 mount that is connected wireless for mount control, focus, etc. I have one USB cable running into my house to the laptop for image capture where I am nice and cool. This is the same setup for my night time Astrophotography which it is really nice in Winter nights...
by RKBerta
Thu Mar 31, 2022 10:06 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Double-stack Ha images / March, 25/ C8 EdgeHD
Replies: 10
Views: 380

Re: Double-stack Ha images / March, 25/ C8 EdgeHD

Gorgeous photos. Can you tell us a bit more about the setup you have put together. I see that you have an ERF (probably full aperture on the 8" HD Celestron). You said it is double stacked.....how....Daystar and Lunt? Do you have an aperture mask?
by RKBerta
Tue Mar 29, 2022 10:06 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: From Valery. Kherson, UKRAINE. NEWS
Replies: 238
Views: 15200

Re: From Valery. Kherson, UKRAINE. NEWS

I have been following Valery's posts here and it is very disturbing. Besides our posts here, I communicated with him years ago as he was developing a product (Chromacor) that could be used with an achromat refractor to convert it into an apo scope I was one if not the first to get one and I also rev...
by RKBerta
Tue Mar 29, 2022 9:34 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: h-alpha, March 27th, 2022, and a telecentric question
Replies: 26
Views: 1373

Re: h-alpha, March 27th, 2022, and a telecentric question

I think you are being hard on yourself! I like both images....but I guess we are always trying to up our game. :D :hamster:
by RKBerta
Mon Mar 21, 2022 8:38 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sun FD in H-Alpha and CaK 18th of March 2022
Replies: 13
Views: 497

Re: Sun FD in H-Alpha and CaK 18th of March 2022

Nice images. :bow Finally getting decent weather so hope to get some new images soon.
by RKBerta
Thu Mar 03, 2022 7:46 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Amazing ENE Prom, 20 min animation, 3 March 2022
Replies: 25
Views: 758

Re: Amazing ENE Prom, 20 min animation, 3 March 2022

:hamster: Wow what a nice animation!! Congrats. Hoping for some more imaging time myself once our weather warms up a bit more here in Michigan.
by RKBerta
Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:33 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Green and Red Rim
Replies: 8
Views: 330

Re: Green and Red Rim

Good and very rare catch on green flash. In my 74 years I have only seen it once.....naked eye. I was in a restaurant in Pismo Beach in California and saw it through a window. It was right on the water over the Pacific Ocean as the sun was setting. I remember that I was very impressed and quickly no...
by RKBerta
Fri Jan 07, 2022 12:34 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: 2022 01 02 - Welcome to the New Year!
Replies: 17
Views: 587

Re: 2022 01 02 - Welcome to the New Year!

Those prominence shots are beautiful. Weather currently in Michigan is cold...but no snow other than 2" on one day....but nothing else to date for the entire season. Biggest problems is no clear skies lately. Hoping for a short Winter and sunny warm skies soon.
by RKBerta
Mon Dec 27, 2021 10:15 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20211227) with VERY GOOD Seeing
Replies: 19
Views: 677

Re: Today's SUN (20211227) with VERY GOOD Seeing

Great shots !! :bow Sadly it is rain/snow mix here. :evil:
by RKBerta
Mon Dec 20, 2021 12:40 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Finally a sunny day 12/19/2021
Replies: 10
Views: 417

Re: Finally a sunny day 12/19/2021

Nice images....clouded out here in Michigan, USA.
by RKBerta
Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:56 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Is this another level of the "new gear comes with cloud syndrome"?
Replies: 16
Views: 562

Re: Is this another level of the "new gear comes with cloud syndrome"?

What a mess. I lived in the Bay Area of California in the US...not exactly a dark sky spot We had a wonderful place about an hour drive though which was excellent for deep sky imaging. I retired to Michigan and we have nice decent dark skies near where I live but in the 20 years since I moved here a...
by RKBerta
Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:36 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: 17th December lunchtime view
Replies: 19
Views: 684

Re: 17th December lunchtime view

It was sunny this morning and this time I was working from home, however by lunchtime it was a bit dodgy. I managed a full CaK image but only managed the bottom half of the H alpha before it clouded up :( Halpha and CaK PST / 2x Barlow / ASI174 https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51753975085_7ca346...
by RKBerta
Sun Dec 19, 2021 12:22 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sunspots on 18/12/21
Replies: 10
Views: 450

Re: Sunspots on 18/12/21

Hello all, Sunspots today at 08:50 l.t. in morning. AR 12906 12907 12908 12909 12910 12911 on the limb. Thanks for looking Sunspots 18 12 21.jpg Love seeing a pencil sketch of your observations. Many of us old timers remember the days when sketching what we saw through our scopes was a highlight of...
by RKBerta
Wed Dec 15, 2021 1:02 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sol from the 12th of December 2021.
Replies: 6
Views: 368

Re: Sol from the 12th of December 2021.

Hi: Sunny day, but hazy and contaminated as usual now, the input of the SSM is set at 0.8, but as you see there is much less input due to haze. Used my 3 scopes at home, so thanks for looking. Wish you all a nice and sunny and safe new week. Eric. SSM-12-12-21.jpg Sol del 12 de diciembre 2021-Meade...
by RKBerta
Sat Dec 04, 2021 4:39 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Tips for making time lapse solar videos
Replies: 8
Views: 612

Re: Tips for making time lapse solar videos

Warren....thanks so very much. That should help very much. Sadly the weather will be getting into freezing here in Michigan so may have to wait for the spring to give it a try.
by RKBerta
Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:08 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Using Ha filters in near freezing temperatures?
Replies: 7
Views: 479

Re: Using Ha filters in near freezing temperatures?

Thanks all for the suggestions. I don't have any problems with regular scopes and cameras...my concern is with the Ha filters and blocking filters. I do very gradual temperature changes to avoid shocking the gear. I also have dehumidifiers and smaller packets of moisture absorbents that goes in case...
by RKBerta
Sun Nov 28, 2021 2:37 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Using Ha filters in near freezing temperatures?
Replies: 7
Views: 479

Using Ha filters in near freezing temperatures?

Here in Michigan, US we are heading into Winter. I am curious what precautions are appropriate for Ha filters when used in cold weather which is near or below freezing. I remember seeing a note that the filters should be allowed to gradually adapt to the temperature both when going out of a house fo...
by RKBerta
Sun Nov 28, 2021 2:15 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Tips for making time lapse solar videos
Replies: 8
Views: 612

Re: Tips for making time lapse solar videos

I'll throw in a tutorial I updated a year ago as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI2PGDVrxk0&t=355s How long is the actual time you are capturing the video? I looked at the Youtube video and it mentioned 10 seconds....not sure if that (in the example) was the real time duration or the vid...
by RKBerta
Sat Nov 27, 2021 5:06 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Tips for making time lapse solar videos
Replies: 8
Views: 612

Tips for making time lapse solar videos

I have am looking for some tips for capturing time lapse videos of solar activity. I have single images down but just getting started in time lapse.
I have been trying with Sharp Cap which seems to work fine but curious what others are using and any tips for getting better results.
by RKBerta
Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:31 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt VS Coronado BF
Replies: 8
Views: 1934

Re: Lunt VS Coronado BF

Bob, Thanks for further info re: the filters on the Coronado and Lunt. The 60mm Coronado Etalon, BF10 and BF30 I have was pre-Meade. The Lunt 60mm with pressure tuner was donated for use at our Scout observatory which I manage here in Michigan. The observatory is really first rate with a large roll ...
by RKBerta
Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:44 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sun Saturday 20 November, 2021 Filaments
Replies: 23
Views: 720

Re: Sun Saturday 20 November, 2021 Filaments

Nice bunch of images and congrats on SPOD.
by RKBerta
Wed Nov 17, 2021 12:31 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Presentation of new solar enthusiastic
Replies: 16
Views: 629

Re: Presentation of new solar enthusiastic

Welcome to the Forum Fabio. I have been lurking a couple of years and just started posting photos the last month. There are some nice people here and very helpful too. I live in the United States but my wife is 1/2 Italian....we have had trip reservations to Italy the last couple of years but they g...
by RKBerta
Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:13 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Sunday Sun November 14th 2021
Replies: 17
Views: 564

Re: Sunday Sun November 14th 2021

Nice images :bow . Here in Michigan, USA we have light rain and some snow flakes.... Should be much better next week.
by RKBerta
Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:12 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20211110) | LUNT152 Good seeing
Replies: 9
Views: 675

Re: Today's SUN (20211110) | LUNT152 Good seeing

You were busy....nice collection of images. The video is a nice touch also. :bow
by RKBerta
Thu Nov 11, 2021 10:04 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Chilly fingers and stiff wires on Nov 6
Replies: 16
Views: 582

Re: Chilly fingers and stiff wires on Nov 6

Excellent capture of the big prominence and active regions. :hamster:
by RKBerta
Thu Nov 11, 2021 9:58 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: November 7th Session - Part 2
Replies: 12
Views: 399

Re: November 7th Session - Part 2

The first post of this session covered the disk features only, but I have now finished processing the proms which are posted below. These images used the same setup to image the proms as was used for the disk features... a pair of Lunt DSII etalons as a double stack mod to the Orion EON 130EDF OTA ...
by RKBerta
Thu Nov 11, 2021 3:51 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Nov 7th Prominence
Replies: 8
Views: 336

Re: Nov 7th Chromosphere and Prominence

The moderators may be able to help you correct the post. That prom is very bright in your image. Certainly brighter than I saw it visually today. What time did you take the image? It looks a fair amount different that it did when I observed it. James James....that was taken on Nov 7th at 12:30pm in...
by RKBerta
Mon Nov 08, 2021 2:30 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Nov 7th Prominence
Replies: 8
Views: 336

Nov 7th Prominence

Had decent weather today so got a bunch of images. Only processed one thus far due to limited time. Was a nice detailed prominence with lots of sharp resolution details. I combined the Prominence with the Chromosphere image in PS. Excuse the topic title....it isn't the Corona ;-) Tried to correct to...
by RKBerta
Sat Oct 30, 2021 4:30 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Oct 28th Flare Session - Remaining Images
Replies: 13
Views: 297

Re: Oct 28th Flare Session - Remaining Images

That last one.....NE-Proms_OR130_2xDSII.jpg (256.35 KiB) ....is particularly neat. I like that one prominence loop. :bow
Has rained or been clouded out for a week and a half here although should be clear the next 10 days or so.
by RKBerta
Wed Sep 15, 2021 3:57 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: More processing of prior image
Replies: 8
Views: 323

More processing of prior image

This will be my second submission to Solar Chat. This is further processing of my first image as I refine my skills. This was taken August 23rd. Original image submission was a mono image so after more processing I colorized it. 80mm APO refractor with DayStar Quark Chromo version and Player One Nep...
by RKBerta
Tue Aug 31, 2021 9:51 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: 1hr time lapse of sunspot region, 30th of August
Replies: 11
Views: 444

Re: 1hr time lapse of sunspot region, 30th of August

Excellent animation...and smooth with no burps. About how long real time duration was this? I've done animations of night time astronomy....hmmm....may have to give this a try on the sun.
by RKBerta
Tue Aug 24, 2021 5:41 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My very first submission....Aug 22, 2021
Replies: 14
Views: 409

My very first submission....Aug 22, 2021

After spending time browsing Solar Chat for a few years I decided to submit one of my photos. This was captured with my brand new camera....Player One Neptune Mono with Sony 178 chip. I used my 80mm Officina Stellare refractor along with a Day Star Quark Chromosphere Ha. I have done lots of Ha viewi...
by RKBerta
Tue Aug 24, 2021 4:51 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Today's SUN (20210823)
Replies: 12
Views: 902

Re: Today's SUN (20210823)

http://pedroreastrophotography.com/SUN_TV101_20210823_GS3-U3-28S4M_WLCaKHa_mosaic.jpg SUN (20210823) WL, CaK & H-alpha (08:00 UTC). TV101 F/5.4, LUNT 1200 CaK Module, SM60, BF30, PGR GRASSHOPPER 3 GS3-U3-28S4 Pedro, I imaged the same day as you! This was my first image with a new camera....Nept...
by RKBerta
Tue Aug 24, 2021 4:17 pm
Forum: Sunlit Earth
Topic: TMB 175 F/8
Replies: 166
Views: 19252

Re: TMB 175 F/8

https://youtu.be/f6oo_jBaR4M Roll-off-roof observatory | Pedro RE' (20210807) TMB175 F/8 | SBIG STL11000 | PARAMOUNT ME (M27/M15) http://pedroreastrophotography.com/ https://youtu.be/0X1sx8Fu27Y Roll-off-roof observatory | Pedro RE' (20210808) TMB175 F/8 | SBIG STL11000 | PARAMOUNT ME (M57) http://...
by RKBerta
Sun Aug 22, 2021 8:19 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M
Replies: 6
Views: 2334

Re: Player One Neptune-M 6.4 MP USB3.0 CMOS Monochrome Astronomy Camera (Sony IMX178 Sensor) # Neptune-M

I posted in this topic to see if anyone was familar with this camera/manufacturer. No comments but after seeing the results from the camera that my fellow club member has, I decided to get one myself while on sale. I am please to report that it is a very good camera for Solar imaging. A couple of fe...
by RKBerta
Sun Aug 15, 2021 2:23 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt 60Tha sudden problem
Replies: 22
Views: 2623

Re: Lunt 60Tha sudden problem

One of my Ha scopes is a Lunt 60 with pressure tuner. When my ERF failed in the Blocking Filter I called Lunt and they just sent out a new filter and I installed it myself. If you have a lock ring device to remove install it is an easy fix. Tool cheap and available from Amazon. No charge from Lunt.
by RKBerta
Sun Aug 15, 2021 2:14 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS80 - Binoviewer Eyepiece Shootout TV Pan 19 vs TV Delite 15 vs Lunt 21-7.2 Zoom
Replies: 10
Views: 3207

Re: Lunt LS80 - Binoviewer Eyepiece Shootout TV Pan 19 vs TV Delite 15 vs Lunt 21-7.2 Zoom

james, Haven't seen any zoom that is parfocal as you change the magnification....I think that would introduce some incredible demands on design of the zoom! The zooms I have thus far are Lunt, Pentax 8-24, and latest BAADER zoom version III. My favorite by a log shot is the Pentax for solar. Lunt is...
by RKBerta
Sun Aug 15, 2021 12:53 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Baader 2 "BBHS-Sitall
Replies: 23
Views: 3474

Re: Baader 2 "BBHS-Sitall

I have a Hutech, Astro Physics and BAADER BBHS sital 2" diagonals. I found that with my particular setup the bit extra back focus with the click stop wouldn't quite reach focus with some eyepieces so was using the AP amd after seeing the note from BAADER below I may have been lucky! Alarmingly ...
by RKBerta
Sat Jul 31, 2021 8:17 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Solar Wedges, any data out there?
Replies: 40
Views: 5628

Re: Solar Wedges, any data out there?

The main reason I went with BAADER vs. Lunt....I liked the click lock and it had setup to allow Tmount adaptor without issues of insufficient in-focus. It came with a few ND filters to match to different aperture scopes also. I bought it early 2017 and after a lot of use....it is still like new and ...
by RKBerta
Sat Jul 31, 2021 8:06 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Use of oil spaced vs. air spaced telescope refractor optics
Replies: 2
Views: 751

Use of oil spaced vs. air spaced telescope refractor optics

I am curious is there is an issue with using a refractor with oil spaced elements for solar astronomy such as with a Hershel Wedge? My refractors are all air spaced elements but a fellow club member has a TEC 135 which has oil spaced elements. He was interested in solar viewing with a Hershel Wedge ...