QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Use this section to discuss "standard" Baader/Coronado/ Lunt SolarView/ Daystar, etc… filters, cameras and scopes. No mods, just questions/ answers and reviews.
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Here is my last contribution to testing, I have my tilter issues ironed out and shot out the 102s today. I want to clear up some previous mis-statements and provide an answer to a question.

First the mis-statement; There is no silvered bevel to reflect light, my mistake (sorry, senior moment). Here is a pic of the front end of the Quark. It is done right.

url=https://flic.kr/p/nBG2RU]Image[/url]front quark by Sullij1, on Flickr

2nd Here is the answer to the question regarding the spacer length; it is a 50mm spacer. Glad to see you got the spacer sorted out.

ImageIMG_8209 by Sullij1, on Flickr

Here is the tilter. I saw my friends at Oceanside Photo and Telescope today. Mr. Mike West helped me find the right thread changer to go from the T/S T2 to M48 thread on the tilter to accept the nose piece to get into the Quark and another to get onto the Baader eyepiece holder a total of 4 pieces including tilter. Here is the whole setup with the cam positioned to minimize reflections. You can see the tilt needed.

Imagetilter side by Sullij1, on Flickr

Imagetilter front by Sullij1, on Flickr

The result - lets look at the flats, the Newton rings are gone. 1st is the Explore 102 flat and 2nd is the Celestron 102 flat.

Imageex flat by Sullij1, on Flickr

Imagec102 flat by Sullij1, on Flickr

Lets talk about the bright spot that you can still see in the corners; Turns out this bright spot runs all the way down the side of the chip. I think this is the problem with chip mounting Don from Pt. Grey talked about in a thread sometime last year. Tilting and rotating the cam until the bright spot was contained to the corner defeated this. Your camera may not have this issue LUCKY YOU. Flats kill the remainder of the reflection. Now on to the good stuff.

Here is the Celestron 102 all setup.

Imagec102 by Sullij1, on Flickr

Here is the Explore 102 APO all setup. (please pardon our gardening, we are upgrading our planters.)

ImageIMG_8193 by Sullij1, on Flickr

Here is the end result in raw. Some pics were stacked in Registax and other in AS2. Just depended on what looked best to me. Wavelets were applied but there is no cropping or finish processing.

First up the Explore 102 APO

ImageEX SPOT 3 RAW NO FLAT by Sullij1, on Flickr

ImageEX spot 2 reg flae wav by Sullij1, on Flickr

ImageEX spot 1 wav reg flat by Sullij1, on Flickr


And finally the Celestron 102

Image102 SPOT 1 RAW AS2 by Sullij1, on Flickr

Image102 spot2 raw by Sullij1, on Flickr

Image102 SPOT 3 RAW AS2 by Sullij1, on Flickr
Pic

There ya go! Hope this information helps somebody else tame their Quark. Processed images on the main forum later.

I too will try a reducer next time out. It does look like the SA is killing some of the detail across the FD though. Walters previous reducer pic suggests this may cause problems. Thanks Brian for giving it a go.

Clear Skies!


Look Up!
User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42131
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20240 times
Been thanked: 10113 times
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by marktownley »

Thanks Joe, gives me an idea of the image scale I would get if I used it with my 100mm/1000mm frac...


Image
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
smerral
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 793
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:45 pm
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 111 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by smerral »

Good info Joe. :cool:


BRIAN
Caithness, Scotland.
Double stack PST, Lunt CaK B600, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
with Altair Astro 102 ED f.7 Refractor and 60 EDF f.6 Refractor.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE.
QHY5III678M
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Joe

great Setups. I'm a Little bit surprised about the amount of tilt needed


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Thanks Mark, IMHO from the testing I did, the longer focal lengths produce the best images with less corruption in the FOV. So even if ya don't get a full disc yer gonna have some of the best close in shots on the planet!

Walter, I think the tilt came out to be quite a bit cuz I had to get rid two birds with one stone, both the rings and bad chip bright area had to be moved from view. I must say the the bright areas only show up in the Ha wide fields (short focal lengths).

Brian, thanks, Looks like you got things sorted out before I posted. Best of luck with your Quark.


Look Up!
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Joe

thank you very much


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Just saw on the mod thread that Daystar will be coming out with a new 2 inch thread in adapter for you visual folks real soon. :)

Here is the link:

http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11521


Look Up!
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Finished images from this run here:

http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11579


Look Up!
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Here is the process that worked for my F43 102 Quark processing for the furry look

Use the Soft from AS2 or Regi6
Levels slider to taste
Isolate surface feature areas to be sharpened with the Lasso Tool (Umbra, Penumbra and spicules). Leave the feathery chromosphere parts untouched
Feather the Lasso area by 20 pixels
Sharpen lasso area at 3 pixels and 15% about 3 times
Now blur the sharpened area by ~.5 pixel
If the area can take another sharpen routine do it
Blur again to ensure the blurred area fades into the feathery features smoothly.
Turn off lasso tool
Sharpen the “entire” image lightly 1 time more, if desired
Blur away any sharpening artifacts1 more time
(White cal if you have it)
Brightness and contrast to taste
Raise or lower white area with Selective Color/ select white adjust and adjust to taste

Optional:

Gradient exterminator if needed
White cal if you have it
Final level

DONE!
The Groove.jpg
The Groove.jpg (58.75 KiB) Viewed 4481 times


Look Up!
smerral
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 793
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:45 pm
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 111 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by smerral »

Thanks for the processing routine Joe. I must give it a shot! :mrgreen:


BRIAN
Caithness, Scotland.
Double stack PST, Lunt CaK B600, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
with Altair Astro 102 ED f.7 Refractor and 60 EDF f.6 Refractor.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE.
QHY5III678M
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

Hi Joe,
my quick test with the Quark Prominence and my Lunt 60mm:

From the top: Lunt 60 DS (50mm), Lunt 60 SS, Quark Prom with a 80/480 ED (F6) and a 0.4x reducer before the camera. Left: just the stacking, right: with some Registax wavelet. please ignore the bad light in the second picture, don't know what happened with the camera there.
Same camera, Skyris 274, same quite poor seeing. It's a quite faint prominence, as today the Sun was very quite
Attachments
quark.png


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Brian, sure thing, its all about sharing here. ;)

Marcello,

That set of images will be a hit! There has been a lot of questions about how the Quark would perform stacked on the back of a Lunt, for you to do both single and double stack is a bonus. Looks to me like the 80mm wins the day over the SS and DS Lunt. On the proms anyway.

Two thumbs up!

Thank you!


Look Up!
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marcello

very fine QUARK job


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

Thanks Walter and Joe,
I can't believe I forgot this: trying the set Lunt + Quark in double stack !! Absolutely next due for me!


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
smerral
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 793
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:45 pm
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 111 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by smerral »

Good stuff Marcello.


BRIAN
Caithness, Scotland.
Double stack PST, Lunt CaK B600, Daystar Quark Chromosphere
with Altair Astro 102 ED f.7 Refractor and 60 EDF f.6 Refractor.
Celestron Nexstar 8SE.
QHY5III678M
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marcello

I tried LUNT100 and QUARK and run out of light


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

Hi, I tried the Lunt 60 + Quark, and I could see only the shape of the Sun, with no details and no Proms, even if there were some very big at the time. So it does not work

I could try it with a acro 100mm F11, and it worked well, even if the F is larger than the limit recommended in the manual

I'm going to buy a large refractor for the Quark, I'm thinking to a acro Skywatcher 120/1000 F8.3, it seems a good choice


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marcello

getting an 1000 mm FL scope just only for the QUARK, I would not do it, 4,3 m FL you would not be very happy most of the time. Well it's your money


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

Hi Walter,

thanks for the comment, my money needs wise suggestions :)
I'm thinking anyway to use the focal reducer after the Quark (o.4x or 0.63x), wouldn't that be a good set up then?

A lower diameter with a smaller focal lenght is an option as well, but I can't find many acro F7 or F8 in that range, many are F11.


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marcello

I have a good 127/820 from TS for sale with a new adapter and new 1:10 focuser


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

Thanks Walter, it's a very good option too

I will send you an email


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
User avatar
DSobserver
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 582
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2012 2:36 pm
Location: FRANCE
Been thanked: 19 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by DSobserver »

is there anyone who knows the power consumption (Ah) for this toy?


User avatar
Merlin66
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 3970
Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 1:23 pm
Location: Junortoun, Australia
Has thanked: 173 times
Been thanked: 615 times
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Merlin66 »

I believe the manual recommends a 2A @5.5V supply.


"Astronomical Spectroscopy - The Final Frontier" - to boldly go where few amateurs have gone before
https://groups.io/g/astronomicalspectroscopy  
http://astronomicalspectroscopy.com
"Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" and
"Imaging Sunlight - using a digital spectroheliograph" - Springer
User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Vincent

the power adapter it came with states : Output: DC5V----1.8A


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
User avatar
Marcello
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 384
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:06 pm
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Marcello »

I used a battery with output 5V - 2A, similar to the one shown in the youtube video of Daystar


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

Finally figured out a scope lens combo that will for for my equipment HERE:

http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=11859


Look Up!
gabrieli
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2410
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 12:12 am
Location: Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Been thanked: 1735 times
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by gabrieli »

Great news, Joe.

Is your Quark part of the 3rd production run (as is mine) or earlier? I wish they would update me about shipping dates.

Lou


User avatar
sullij1
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 2249
Joined: Wed Mar 28, 2012 4:29 am
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by sullij1 »

First run. Its taken me this long to get it matched to a imaging train that really works well with the equipment I have. No doubt it will take you some time to get it working the way you want it too but it is well worth toying with. The end result is fantastic. Users with F7 scopes should get immediate gratification.


Look Up!
renims

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by renims »

Gentlemen, please help. I bought DayStar Quark end ERF Brader. I have a telescope and Omegon APO 150/1000mm F6,7 focal length is too large. What should be the focal length?
image too large, lack of focus image.
I know it has to be F30. What reducer buy ?


User avatar
swisswalter
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 17948
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:28 am
Location: Switzerland
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Renims

do not focus on f30 alone . trust me, less is more ;)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
Solar129

Re: QUARKS ARRIVING - Comments and Reviews!

Post by Solar129 »

The best size would be 100mm .


Post Reply