ZWO ASI178MM Monochrome Camera first light

[DeepSolar64]

So here is the second part of the session I did today ( 2-19-21 ) before work. My first attempt at imaging the sun with the new ZWO camera. It was cold, windy and the seeing sucked! But I tried anyway. All are just simple captures that I edited in GIMP. They are certainly not what you guys and gals do but they did turn out better than my iPhone pictures do. OK for a first attempt I guess.

Before adding the camera I could easily see the filaments visually in the eyepiece of the SMII90. But the camera didn't show them. I did remove the stacking filter after observing visually to photograph the prominences in single-stack and then put it back on for the disc shots. I must have been off band for the filaments, I forgot to re-tune the stacking filter!

Anyway. Here goes. Don't laugh too hard.

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Goodnight everyone.

James

[Carbon60]

That’s an excellent start, James. Beautiful proms.

It can take a few sessions before you really get a feel for the equipment and settings. Actually, it can take many sessions as the conditions are so variable. I’m still learning and tweaking after 9 years at this game

Stu.

[Alto]

You got a scorpion.

[marktownley]

These turned out well James for a first go! Disk off band but don't worry about that, all these things come with practice like Stu says.

[ffellah]

Well done, James ! If you continue doing it and listen to all people that want to help in this forum you will pick up tips very quickly. Very nice first run.

Franco

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

An excellent attempt James for the first-light images, where the colouring and presentation have come-out very well..

Obviously the comments here from others are valid and can only help you to improve as well as the "practice - makes perfect" too.

Congrats
Terry

[solarnoob]

Excellent first light, congrats!

Frank

[DeepSolar64]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Your input and tutelage will be very valuable concerning imaging. I may be a skilled visual observer but I am truly in my infancy in astrophotography.

[Montana]

Well done James congratulations on the first images. I still have days like that so don't worry about it, practice makes perfect. It has taken me about 10 sessions to grasp the technique of using the FLIR Chameleon on the PST instead of the DMK41

Alexandra

[rsfoto]

Hi James,

Those are excellent first images you have got. Much better then what I got when I started.

Now when it comes to H-alpha surface shots you need to tune the filters looking at the result of the camera, but you already know this, and the second point is to focus well. Focusing is an easier task rather the putting them in band as the tuning wheels on the Coronado etalons are more a nuisance then a help and makes everything very cumbersome.

All in all very good results for a start and tuning is the most time demanding in all this imaging enchilada.

Keep going and have patience.

[DeepSolar64]

Hi James,

Those are excellent first images you have got. Much better then what I got when I started.

Now when it comes to H-alpha surface shots you need to tune the filters looking at the result of the camera, but you already know this, and the second point is to focus well. Focusing is an easier task rather the putting them in band as the tuning wheels on the Coronado etalons are more a nuisance then a help and makes everything very cumbersome.

All in all very good results for a start and tuning is the most time demanding in all this imaging enchilada.

Keep going and have patience.

And add a manual alt-az mount to the mix. No tracking! That's gonna change soon!!

[arnedanielsen]

Congratulations on your new camera and first light, James!

Best regards,
Arne

[DeepSolar64]

Thank you Arne!

[Stardust5858]

Well done James on the first light. It takes practice, my first was off band too. It'll all come together. In fact it's taken me a good part of a year to get to grips with tuning and pre and post processing. Focusing might be a little off too. Keep them coming.

[JochenM]

Off to a good start, James.

As mentioned several times already; practice makes perfect. Looking forward to more.

[DeepSolar64]

Thanks everyone!