Hello - new solar maniac here

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dvoss
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Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by dvoss »

Hi all,

My first post to this amazing forum. I've been engaging in extensive lurkage over the last few months, hoovering up as much knowledge as I can. I'm really struck by how much excellent information is available from so many dedicated solar observers.

My primary interests are h-alpha, ca-k, and some white light imaging. In a former life, I was a plasma physicist and laser jockey, but got out of research and into publishing. Now going back into hands-on optical stuff as a hobby. I've owned a PST for several years and recently acquired a Lunt 80 DS for imaging. Also invested in a ca-k B1800 from Lunt, mounted on a Celestron 102/f10. Slowly getting the hang of imaging, aligning, stacking, sharpening etc. Here in Maryland, USA, we get some very nice sunny days, but lately weather and work schedule have not been kind.

Here is my first effort at ca-k - 2000 frames from ASI174MM, selected best 500 in PIPP, stacked 50 in Autostakkert, top and bottom halves stitched together in Autostitch. Autostakkert sharpening is on and I admit it does look somewhat overprocessed:

cak_b1800_cel102_03dec2017_pipp500_as50.jpg
cak_b1800_cel102_03dec2017_pipp500_as50.jpg (664.01 KiB) Viewed 1515 times

And since Pantone has announced "ultraviolet" as their color of the year for 2018, here is the false color version:

cak_b1800_cel102_03dec2017_pipp500_as50_pantone2018.jpg
cak_b1800_cel102_03dec2017_pipp500_as50_pantone2018.jpg (1.16 MiB) Viewed 1515 times

With luck, I hope to get some good h-alpha on my next sunny day. I also have some ideas for future postings on wavelet processing and camera technology.

thanks

David Voss
Silver Spring MD USA


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ffellah
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by ffellah »

Welcome to this great and friendly group, David.

Nice images to start with..... too bad the sun is so blank these days.

Franco


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pedro
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by pedro »

Welcome to Solarchat David

Great FD Ca-K image

Please keep us posted


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eroel
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by eroel »

David:
Welcome to the fórum.
Regards,
Eric.


dvoss
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by dvoss »

Hi Franco, Pedro, Eric:

Many thanks! The cold weather and snow have rolled in here, so I hope to use the time for processing some h-alpha observations made a few months ago.

all the best

David


David Voss
Silver Spring MD USA

Lunt 80PT DS
Lunt 60TT DS
Lunt B1800 CaK
Daystar Quark Chromosphere
Coronado PST DS
Celestron 102/f10
ES AR127
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yltansg
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by yltansg »

Welcome to the forum. Nice captures!!

Alfred


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Carbon60
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by Carbon60 »

Nice images, David.

Welcome to the site.

Stu.


H-alpha, WL and Ca II K imaging kit for various image scales.
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
dvoss
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by dvoss »

Stu and Alfred, thanks very much. Tomorrow's forecast calls for morning sun and freezing temperatures, possibly an opportunity for some h-alpha captures.

cheers

David


David Voss
Silver Spring MD USA

Lunt 80PT DS
Lunt 60TT DS
Lunt B1800 CaK
Daystar Quark Chromosphere
Coronado PST DS
Celestron 102/f10
ES AR127
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by Montana »

A very warm welcome and a great start with a fab CaK disc :hamster: :bow use ImPPG for sharpening (not Autostakkert)
Alexandra


dvoss
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by dvoss »

Thanks Alexandra - your blog has been a great help, especially regarding camera parameters. And thank you for the suggestion of ImPPG - I will give that a try.

David


David Voss
Silver Spring MD USA

Lunt 80PT DS
Lunt 60TT DS
Lunt B1800 CaK
Daystar Quark Chromosphere
Coronado PST DS
Celestron 102/f10
ES AR127
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by marktownley »

Good opener, welcome!


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!
Derek Klepp
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Re: Hello - new solar maniac here

Post by Derek Klepp »

Welcome David .


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