Personal Solar Telescope Age

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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trc199
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Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by trc199 »

Hi everyone...
I'm new to the forum..

Question.🤔
I've just bought a second hand PST from a trusted source..
I can see surface detail and some very small flares this morning...And I mean a very small flare..
I used to have one of the 1st PSTs in 2005 and I'm sure the flares and surface markings were more prominent ..
My question is how can I find out the age of the scope...I've included the serial number in one of the pics...
Plus, What is the lifespan of these scopes, some people say only 3 years and Meade only offer a 5 year warranty.
I'm aware the original scopes had a problem with the objective coating but that was replaced. In addition I've checked the primary lense coating and Etalon for rusting, plus the blocking filter at the eyepiece end...They seem in good condtion....
Photos attached

Cheers Tim
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Last edited by trc199 on Sun May 10, 2020 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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solarchat
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Re: Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by solarchat »

Welcome!
Yes, everyone starts with the PST. It is a fantastic scope to get in to solar.
What you saw were called "prominences". These are small clouds of plasma held loft by magnetic field lines. Solar flares are a different thing that you will also see with the PST, but not until activity increases significantly.

The main problem with the PST is the rusted blocking filter. Look inside the eyepiece tube at the 5mm red piece of glass. If it is clear, you're in business. If it has a grainy appearance or uneven look in the center growing outward, it is rusted. This is an easy fix and there are dozens of posts on it here in the forum.

We look forward to your observations and maybe images to come.


Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA USA
Founder/Director Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
http://www.solarastronomy.org
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Re: Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by rsfoto »

That PST should be a quite recent one as it was assembled in Mexico and the factory in Mexico was set up a few years ago as far as I know. Well abouit 12 years ago :-)

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Re: Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I almost bought a PST back in 2013. Financially I was much more in debt back then than I am now and didn't do it. They seem to be good scopes for their small size.


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Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by Merlin66 »

PST serial numbers don't mean much.....
If the PST has a "blue" objective then it's either relatively new or has had the objective replaced (with an internal ITF added at the eyepiece holder).
Unless the instrument has been dropped and the etalon damaged....there's not much else to go wrong.
99% of subsequent performance "concerns" are related to the failure of the ITF filter.
Unscrew the eyepiece holder from the black box, and look carefully at the bright filter element at the base.... if this looks like it has concentric rings and darker edges then the ITF should be replaced. Maier Photonics can supply a drop in replacement for around us$ 75.


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Re: Personal Solar Telescope Age

Post by Solar B »

827A639A-5FC0-4C08-9157-31102C305382.jpeg
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Shown is the EP holder & Spacer assembly

BF6mm on the left and the ITF (prone to
oxidation) on the right.

Brian


" Gentlemen only ever use Refractors "
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