A big solar scope is coming.....

Use this section to discuss "standard" Baader/Coronado/ Lunt SolarView/ Daystar, etc… filters, cameras and scopes. No mods, just questions/ answers and reviews.
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A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

We are dabbling with something big for solar. Its a 204mm F6 Achromat.

See an initial test pic in far from perfect seeing.

The ERF used for this was a 75mm D-ERF mounted in a custom cell on the end of the focuser draw tube. Etalon was a PST. Soon we will try a Daystar and see what we can do about a front ERF although the results with internal are OK.

Regards

Rupert / Astrograph
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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by marktownley »

Impressive! I was just looking at this scope on the Tecnosky FB page...


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Derek Klepp »

Impressive


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

There are bigger ones, but you can get this in the car! The price looks like it will be very good.


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by marktownley »

You just had to go and say there are bigger ones... How am I going to explain that to Fiona? :?


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

Start with a beer and a curry.....


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by marktownley »

Astrograph wrote:Start with a beer and a curry.....
That would probably work ;)


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Montana »

Wow!! that's an amazing shot :bow :bow :hamster:

I wish I could win the lottery, then buy a big house by the sea, then a beautiful observatory, then a bigger scope :lol:

Alexandra


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by marktownley »

Tecnosky quoted 4200 euros for this on their FB page this morning, or there abouts!


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

Yes Mark but that is a guide. That is very cheap for such a big scope. I am already discussing some changes such as the focuser. As far as a solar scope is concerned there are then some mods to do. It is early days yet.


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by marktownley »

I know, only a guide! :)


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Carbon60 »

Cool scope. Great image.

Stu


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

I 'sponsored' a cube sat.....its in orbit,,,which is a shame because it really belongs in a bin. Never worked. All I got was a lousy T Shirt.

So Mark, we are thinking that the new scope might have a cosmetic tweak and in the UK, I am thinking more along the lines of a 3.5" Feathertouch, because for solar and all the stuff that will hang off it, that will be zero tilt. Cost therefore looks like it will be £4000 retail. Then there is the ERF....

Hopefully we will have a sample in the UK in time for the Mercury transit. An event for which I am co-organising with the Royal Observatory Greenwich as part of my role with Flamsteed AS.


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by fjabet »

Do you know if they aspherized the lens to work in Ha band ? An F6 200 refractor as a huge amount of spherochromatism.


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

At the moment I can't say. The first sample has only just arrived and is still being tested under all conditions. My personal interest is solar applications only which it seems to deal with quite well. The test that comes with the lens and the wavelength it seems optimised for is 632nm. We are not expecting miracles from it. It is an F6 Achromat at the end of the day.


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by PEterW »

Wonder what it'll do in white light?
So you have a Mercury transit event planned for Greenwich..,interesting.

PeterW


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Re: A big solar scope is coming.....

Post by Astrograph »

Yep, I run the observing and Imaging section of the Flamsteed AS and am a 'Solar Volunteer' for the ROG which the FAS run Solar sessions for. We will have 5-6 scopes outside the Peter Harrison Planetarium for the event all day. As I run a business I will setup one imaging rig plus at least one visual. There will then be some other Ha and White Light setups. We will have White Light, Ha and Cal H.

As for the 210, its an Achro F6 so white light will be s*** unless used with a continuum filter. One of the Astronomers at the ROG is putting a full aperture white light filter on the ROG's 28" achromat. We have all said this is a very bad idea!

Before / After the event I will test the 210 on White, Ha and Cal H to see what it does


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