Search found 54 matches

by Gert
Wed Feb 21, 2024 4:03 am
Forum: Solar Software
Topic: Eclipse Orchestrator Question
Replies: 0
Views: 226

Eclipse Orchestrator Question

Hi All, @admin: OK to discuss the Eclipse Orchestrator software here? I've been using Eclipse Orchestrator successfully in several prev. eclipses with Canon EOS T3i. Using the PC version on Windows 10 Pro Laptop. Now for the 2024 eclipse I am developing my script and have added a second EOS T3i. Wha...
by Gert
Sat Feb 29, 2020 8:16 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: H-A GONG Page Offline
Replies: 7
Views: 4792

Re: H-A GONG Page Offline

@DeepSolar64 : Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Anybody knows if this is a permanent change?

Cheers,
Gert
by Gert
Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:10 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: H-A GONG Page Offline
Replies: 7
Views: 4792

H-A GONG Page Offline

Hi All,

The GONG H-A page seems offline. Did 'NSO' not pay their ISP fees? Or do they have a leap-year bug?

Image

Cheers,
Gert
by Gert
Tue Dec 17, 2019 6:15 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt 60 Pressure tuning question(s)
Replies: 38
Views: 19445

Re: Lunt 60 Pressure tuning question(s)

Hello All, I would like to add my own method of setting / checking the tuner. I mostly work with a camera (ASI174) and a laptop where in the recording software I can see the histogram in real-time. Now we know the H-Alpha spectral line in the Sun is an absorption line. As the tuner sweeps the transm...
by Gert
Tue Oct 18, 2016 10:56 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Eclipse Orchestrator Support ?
Replies: 5
Views: 1747

Re: Eclipse Orchestrator Support ?

Hi All, A link : http://www.moonglowtechnologies.com/products/EclipseOrchestrator/index.shtml I've been very happy with the automation capabilities esp. timing with resp. to contact events. Having a script that says "10sec prior to C2 do this loop of exposures" and then the software (with ...
by Gert
Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:35 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Eclipse Orchestrator Support ?
Replies: 5
Views: 1747

Eclipse Orchestrator Support ?

Hello All, Any users of 'Eclipse Orchestrator' out there? I bought the '3.6 Pro' version online. Is there a support / faq / forum to exchange info and questions? Nothing is mentioned on the web site. Anybody else planning to use it for the 2017 eclipse? I'm esp interested in the planning of the expo...
by Gert
Fri Oct 14, 2016 4:15 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: LS100 DSll Circular polarizer adapter.
Replies: 12
Views: 6720

Re: LS100 DSll Circular polarizer adapter.

Hello All, Just a big Hello to Gus to pick up on my tests for the polarizer on the LS100 DS module. I'm happy someone picked up on my work. I recently upgraded to an ASI174 camera and was very pleased to see the added sensitivity of that camera over my older DMK41. With the DMK I had some concerns a...
by Gert
Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:54 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Source for Lunt 100 mounting rings
Replies: 4
Views: 3188

Re: Source for Lunt 100 mounting rings

Hi Gus,

That's interesting.
So Lunt might have changed the rings that they ship with the LS100.
May I ask when you got yours? Mine is from Sept. 2014.

Cheers,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Aug 21, 2016 7:00 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Source for Lunt 100 mounting rings
Replies: 4
Views: 3188

Source for Lunt 100 mounting rings

Hi All,

Lunt ships the LS100 with mounting rings with rounded top.
I need rings with flat top for Losmandy D-type bar (top and bottom).
What is the correct ring diameter and which is a reasonably priced manufacturer?

Thanks,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Aug 14, 2016 6:55 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: USB3 plus fast SSD drive computer?
Replies: 16
Views: 10214

Re: USB3 plus fast SSD drive computer?

Hi,

What is SHG imaging? Sounds interesting.
Why do you need SSD?

Best,
Gert
by Gert
Thu Nov 26, 2015 7:31 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Hello All,

One update. I have collected the texts and photos on a little web blog on my astro-hobby page.

http://drgert.dyndns.ws:8000/lunt_ls100 ... ghost.html

When I have new photos with the polarizer in place I will post them there as well.

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sat Nov 14, 2015 8:12 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Hello Again, Thanks to all who posted comments and supporting material and illustrations. I did mention in the prev post that between my post on 'Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:34 am' here : http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17201 And this post started on 'Sun Nov 01, 2015 4:19 am' I had the e...
by Gert
Sun Nov 08, 2015 3:38 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Hello Bob Yoesle, Thank you for the very detailed discussion. You write : The perplexing thing here would be that if the DSII etalon is indeed tilted to any degree, I would have thought the ghost would have rotated with the change in module position -- and it did not. That is correct. But recall tha...
by Gert
Tue Nov 03, 2015 4:16 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Hi Bob, I'm shocked. Lunt asks $5k for a front 100mm double stack unit and then we see a double-star Sun. Wow! My guess is that Lunt is balancing between building DS unit WITH polarizer and folks complaining about too dark an image and WITHOUT polarizer and complaints about ghosts. Between a rock an...
by Gert
Mon Nov 02, 2015 4:50 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

@STU,

I am keeping the images in my 2015 solar observing blog.

http://drgert.dyndns.ws:8000/sun_2015/s ... _2015.html

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Nov 01, 2015 7:32 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

@marktownley One thing I think this does show is that the reflection is between the 2 etalon units, shame this can't be sorted by Lunt instead of us band of modders coming up with solutions. It's a darn expensive setup for it to not be working properly. Oh well, I could start marketing the Lunt-DS-G...
by Gert
Sun Nov 01, 2015 6:48 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Re: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Fixed the image link. Should be OK now.
Exposures with the DSLR were longer on purpose to analyze the ghosting.
Observations in mission-mode will use the USB DMK camera.
Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Nov 01, 2015 4:19 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer
Replies: 20
Views: 13452

Lunt LS100 ghosting now with polarizer

Hello All, I showed the prev state of improvement of the ghosting issue in the LS100 in this thread: http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=17982 Following user 'Carbon60' recommendation I attached a rear facing circular polarizer (Amazon photo accessory) to the front nose piece of the ...
by Gert
Wed Oct 28, 2015 1:57 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Update on LS100 Ghost 2015-10
Replies: 6
Views: 3951

Re: Update on LS100 Ghost 2015-10

@STU, I picked up following polarizer. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004ZCAU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage It would fully cover the 'front facing glass' of the DS unit. My question for the experts : As you know if you have a DS unit for the Lunt 100mm the DS unit po...
by Gert
Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:46 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Update on LS100 Ghost 2015-10
Replies: 6
Views: 3951

Update on LS100 Ghost 2015-10

Hello SolarChat, In previous postings I had reported on the initial observation of ghosting in the LS100 with DS module, http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13805 and then later on an update after Lunt had provided me with a new front red-glass for the DS unit. http://solarchat.natca...
by Gert
Mon Oct 12, 2015 6:49 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Some more observations on filter performance
Replies: 16
Views: 8025

Re: Some more observations on filter performance

Hi Bob, I agree with your analysis that the stacked filter reduces the peak transmission and was wondering if anybody might be able to contribute data to the same. I checked the Lunt web page for their front etalons which is basically a plain etalon in parallel light, but they would not give a peak ...
by Gert
Mon Aug 17, 2015 5:59 am
Forum: Solar Radio, Magnetometry and Spectroscopy
Topic: July 2015 magnetic summary
Replies: 8
Views: 3586

Re: July 2015 magnetic summary

Hi Stu,

What sort of sensor equipment would one need to record such data?

I have built a weather station around a raspberry PI.
http://drgert.dyndns.ws:8000/rpi/bmp085/bmp085.php

Similar ideas could be realized with magnetic sensors if those are accurate enough and readily available.

Thanks,
Gert
by Gert
Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:09 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Update on LS100 DS Ghost
Replies: 6
Views: 3420

Re: Update on LS100 DS Ghost

Hi marktonley, Have you tried using a different camera? what happens when you rotate the camera and keep everything else static? Yes, multiple camera rotation has been tested to no effect. In addition the same camera used in single stack testing with no ghosting. See photos in first discussion threa...
by Gert
Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:34 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Update on LS100 DS Ghost
Replies: 6
Views: 3420

Update on LS100 DS Ghost

Hello All, We discussed the ghosting issue in my Lunt LS100 when adding the DS unit in a prev thread. http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=13805 Lunt tech support recommended an upgrade to the DS unit called the HRG glass. I received the glass last week and this Sunday having wonderfu...
by Gert
Sun May 17, 2015 1:33 am
Forum: Solar Scope Modifications
Topic: Shapey Lens for Lunt LS60PT and DMK41
Replies: 2
Views: 1717

Shapey Lens for Lunt LS60PT and DMK41

The DMK41 camera and the Lunt LS60PT are a popular combination to image the H-Alpha sun. The focal length of the Lunt LS60PT is specified at 500mm (measured 506mm) and that yields an image scale just a little bit too large for the full chip of the DMK41. There is always a little piece of the Sun cut...
by Gert
Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:49 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hi All, Talking to Lunt tech support they suggested a test to rotate the camera, ony to exclude the double reflex causing the ghosting is coming from it. They said the new filter from NEAF is an improved stray light filter and will not improve on my ghosting. Proposal by Carbon60 above to employ cir...
by Gert
Tue Apr 28, 2015 2:43 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hi swisswalter,

There is no T-thread connection between the etalons in the LS100. The DS unit is clamped into the tube via a circular dovetail and 3 thumbscrews. Let me get in touch with Lunt to check options.

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:09 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hello swisswalter and DSobserver,

Thank you for the info. Could you please elaborate if DS tilt is a user adjustment (and how it is done) or if this can only be done at the factory?

Thanks & Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sat Apr 25, 2015 8:36 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hello All, My apologies for the long delay updating the material from my initial posting. One commentator asked to identify the ghosting source by rotating the BF and keep the DS unit stationary. Remember in my first report I rotated the DS unit and then counter rotated the BF with camera back to in...
by Gert
Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:48 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Planning for 2017 Eclipse
Replies: 6
Views: 979

Planning for 2017 Eclipse

Hello All, Yes it is only 2015 but the March eclipse got me thinking about the planning for 2017. I'm living at the US West Coast (Bay Area) and so I would probably not go with an organized tour that includes air travel and on-site entertainment, but load the gear into the car and drive to the cente...
by Gert
Sat Mar 21, 2015 11:20 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: ZWO ASI 120mm /ASI174mm with Lunt 100mm.
Replies: 10
Views: 3334

Re: ZWO ASI 120mm /ASI174mm with Lunt 100mm.

Hi Ralph,

Do you know if someone has a weak focal reducer lens (maybe 0.9x) to better match the camera to the image scale?

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Tue Mar 17, 2015 7:22 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Lunt 80DSII vs 100DSII
Replies: 6
Views: 3116

Re: Lunt 80DSII vs 100DSII

Hi, I have tested the LS100 with the internal DS unit. The DS vs the SS has quite strong ghosting. Here is a combinations of photos showing the reflections. http://drgert.dyndns.ws:8000/download/LS100DS_Halo.jpg You can see in the photosequence how I rotated the DS unit (keeping the BF and camera co...
by Gert
Sun Dec 07, 2014 8:52 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Measured finesse of the Coronado SM60 etalon.
Replies: 15
Views: 4465

Re: Measured finesse of the Coronado SM60 etalon.

Hi Merlin66,

From your discussion it appears that you used the sun as the light source.
Why did you not use a reference light source without spectral features like a high pressure arc lamp?

Cheers,
Gert
by Gert
Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:05 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hi Pedro,
pedro wrote:Try using other BFs.
I only have 1 BF. Maybe I'll ask Lunt if I can borrow one from them.
(I had shared my tests with them but never got a reply)
(Not sure if they're monitoring this forum)

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Mon Nov 10, 2014 8:03 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

Re: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hi Gus,
GUS wrote:Hi Gert, did you try rotating the BF to see if it's a reflection from the back of the DS Etalon of the BF.
No, I haven't thought of that yet.
But that sounds like a good plan for next weekend.

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Sun Nov 09, 2014 4:01 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS
Replies: 24
Views: 6880

A testphoto for ghosting in Lunt LS100PT with DS

Hi All, I always wanted to do some more tests on the ghost images in my new LS100PT with the DS unit. To try this out I took a baseline image without the DS unit and no other auxiliary optics like barlows etc. I used the Canon DSLR which is non-typical for H-A solar work, but it gave me the biggest ...
by Gert
Wed Oct 01, 2014 5:42 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: An idea for decoupled PT
Replies: 3
Views: 1214

An idea for decoupled PT

Hi All, Just an idea what Lunt needs to sell. Having the PT knobs on the scope esp in DS config is cumbersome and tuning always shakes the image. I've seen their motor pump remote unit, but that's pricey and for DS you need 2 of them! But what about transposing that idea into manual pumps? Bringing ...
by Gert
Sat Jul 26, 2014 5:07 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime focus
Replies: 10
Views: 869

Re: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime fo

Hi swisswalter

The disk images with the LS100 are just are tight fit. Do both cameras have the same internal sensor? They both look great.

Thank you for posting the images.

Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Wed Jul 23, 2014 6:56 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime focus
Replies: 10
Views: 869

Re: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime fo

Hi swisswalter, Interesting. The Lunt web page says : "... Optical Aperture: 100 mm Focal Length: 800 mm F Ratio: F/7 ..." When you refer to ED102/700, is that from engraving on the front lens? Note that the difference might be from the fact that they use a collimator-etalon-reminaging-len...
by Gert
Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:08 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime focus
Replies: 10
Views: 869

Re: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime fo

Hi Lou, hi swisswalter, Thank you for the info. Can you help by giving a measurement of the LS100 focal length, please? Lunt quotes the LS100 at F7 thus approx 700mm fl. On the OPT page the fl. is explicitly given as 800m. Which is correct? Would be good to know for camera / chip size selection. EDI...
by Gert
Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:08 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime focus
Replies: 10
Views: 869

Cameras to capture full disk in Lunt80, Lunt100 prime focus

Hello All, Still pondering my the next step up from the Lunt60. http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9380 Today I would like to ask folks who do imaging with a Lunt80 or Lunt100 if they use a camera that captures the full disk or revert back to a mosaic. On the Lunt60 my DMK41 just bar...
by Gert
Mon Mar 10, 2014 5:30 am
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: Pressure tuned Lunt and temperature
Replies: 17
Views: 4672

Re: Pressure tuned Lunt and temperature

Hi All, What was said before is all correct. Let me add that temperature affects pressure tuned etalon performance in many ways. The metal housing of the etalon and the quartz spacer change length, the refractive index of the air changes, and of course the pressure of the confined air in the pressur...
by Gert
Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:30 pm
Forum: Commercial Solar Filters/Cameras/Hardware
Topic: The new Hutech solar autoguider?
Replies: 28
Views: 10889

Re: The new Hutech solar autoguider?

Hello All, I would like to build this myself. I have a Raspberry PI and webcam. So one would grab a picture from the camera find the sun disk center coordinates compare with the prev image and send corrections to the mount via the built-in USB. Even use an offset to center the main scope at a limb p...
by Gert
Sat Nov 30, 2013 6:47 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: A prom lift off!!!!
Replies: 25
Views: 1824

Re: A prom lift off!!!!

Hello All,

On Friday there was a similar lift off. I got the below image with the Lunt LS60PT and DMK41.
Notice the faint prominence at about 2 o'clock.





Clear Skies,
Gert
by Gert
Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:01 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Hovering Prominence Today
Replies: 9
Views: 491

Hovering Prominence Today

Hello All, There was a nice hovering prominence today. The disk image is a composite of separate exposure for surface and prominences. To achieve surface and prominences in the same exposure is much more challenging. The goal still to capture the fainter prominences and not over exposing the surface...
by Gert
Sat Nov 23, 2013 10:33 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: Double / single Stacker comparison test
Replies: 7
Views: 944

Re: Double / single Stacker comparison test

Hi Robin, That's an excellent documentation of the different performance of the SS/DS system. Thank you for posting the results. Could you please share the different settings used for capturing the images? I'm esp. looking for by how much you needed to increase exposure and gain for the DS recording...
by Gert
Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:06 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My way of tuning the Lunt PT
Replies: 9
Views: 971

Re: My way of tuning the Lunt PT

Hi Robert, I use the same method as you describe with the histogram (LS60 PT and Firecapture) to find the darkest image with greatest contrast. Then when I add my SM40 to do a DS image I adjust the tilt by using the histogram to get the brightest image which also has greatest contrast. Robert Thank ...
by Gert
Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:09 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My way of tuning the Lunt PT
Replies: 9
Views: 971

Re: My way of tuning the Lunt PT

Hello Merlin66, The tilt or pressure tuning always brings with it sweet spots / bars to varying degrees. My attempt is to find the sport where at least the brightness / contrast gradients across the image are not so bad. Yes, I had those gradients before. That's what I shoot for when I search for th...
by Gert
Tue Nov 19, 2013 12:23 am
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: My way of tuning the Lunt PT
Replies: 9
Views: 971

My way of tuning the Lunt PT

Hello All, I want to share with you my way of tuning the Lunt PT and also call for others to post theirs and discuss pro/cons. We all know that the tunable etalons (doesn't matter if tilt or pressure tuned) have their sweet spots / bars or whatever shape of best bandwidth in the image. Now my reason...
by Gert
Sun Nov 17, 2013 11:28 pm
Forum: This is SolarChat !!
Topic: H-A from this Weekend with Lunt60
Replies: 7
Views: 812

H-A from this Weekend with Lunt60

Hallo All, Thank you for commenting on my equipment discussion. http://solarchat.natca.net/index.php/en/this-is-solar-chat/6-this-is-solarchat-/94871-growing-up-from-a-lunt60#95044 Just want to show that the Lunt LS60PT is not sitting idle waiting for the upgrade so here are the shots with it from t...