Appenzellersonne 3rd march, first light PST mod

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:32 pm

Hi all

despite a hazy sky I had the chance to use for the first time my moded PST and that all together with the new AR

D-ERF/TAK102/PST-Etalon/B1200

Post by **solarchat** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:38 pm

Fantastic Image Walter!

I have featured this as todays photo of the day on www.solarastronomy.org
great work!

Post by **Merlin66** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:42 pm

Definately a special catch!
Well done. The PST mod seems to be working well for you.

Post by **marktownley** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 1:49 pm

Thats a stunner Walter! More please!!!!

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:02 pm

Hi Stephen, Ken and Mark

thank you very much for the flowers. I'm blushing

Here a closeup with the moded PST on the TEC140

I hope you don't kill me because of that

Post by **marktownley** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:29 pm

Cool stuff! I think you should give me your 100mm Lunt, you have no need for it anymore

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:33 pm

Hi Mark

I'm not that sure about that deal, in fact it isn't a deal, is it? Maybe the PST etalon will not survive the summer sun load . Will see.

Post by **marktownley** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:36 pm

Hi Mark

I'm not that sure about that deal, in fact it isn't a deal, is it? Maybe the PST etalon will not survive the summer sun load . Will see.

You won't get a better offer than that

What ERF are you using?

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:39 pm

Hi Mark

I have already a better offer

My wife pays 10'000 £ if I get rid of all that solar stuff andf leave her the free space in the wintergarden instead.

The Baader D-ERF which I use, however takes up only little space

Post by **Merlin66** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:49 pm

You'll be OK with a D-ERF.
I have modded PST which are now well over four years old and still going strong!
BTW you could use the redundant Lunt 100 for a double stack set up with the PST Mod?!

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:02 pm

You'll be OK with a D-ERF.
I have modded PST which are now well over four years old and still going strong!
BTW you could use the redundant Lunt 100 for a double stack set up with the PST Mod?!

Hi Ken

thank you very much. The redunant LUNT 100

just has come back from LUNT, first I have to see how it works after the workover. I certainly try it and have alredy had as short go on it. I loose to much light, recording speed drops to 10 to 15 fps instead of 40-80 fps

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:12 pm

Thats a stunner Walter! More please!!!!

Hi Mark

here is a close up on AR 11423 from today with that cheap setup

Basically: Baader D-ERF/Alexandras scope/TAK extender 1.6/PST Etalon/Lunt B1200/ Abbe Zeiss Barlow 2x

Post by **Merlin66** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:13 pm

Yeah Walter,
Cut your losses and sell it to Mark!
Then you could afford an even BIGGER D-ERF for the superb performing PST Mod ;-)

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:17 pm

Yeah Walter,
Cut your losses and sell it to Mark!
Then you could afford an even BIGGER D-ERF for the superb performing PST Mod ;-)

Hi Ken

that is a fantastic idea. I'll discuss that over with my wife this evening with a bottle or two of red wine

I'm sure where it is going to end

Post by **Merlin66** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:30 pm

I've always found the "best" answer comes with the third bottle - Nice 10 yo Heathcote Shiraz! ;-)

andreahaku · Post by **andreahaku** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:39 pm

Very nice images!
Thanks for showing the images.
I'm happy that the PST mod is working for you as well.
Very good results with large opening... makes me want more from my setup and order the 100mm refractor

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:58 pm

Hi Ken, Hi Andrea

thank you very much.

@Ken the third bottle is too much, that's going to end in the toilett

our bedroom is one stair up

@Andrea
100 mm is great, you will be having lots of fun. Do you have a big enough harddisk :woohoo:

Post by **Montana** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:11 pm

HEY Walter you got one :woohoo:

So you now have a 140mm PST double WOW!!!!!

Amazing pictures, no need for that Lunt now.

I also find that I can only secure funds on Friday evenings after I have got the hubby drunk

Kind regards
Alexandra

Post by **Merlin66** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:15 pm

OK, I agree - you don't want to waste a good bottle of Ozzie Shiraz - just go for the two bottles but make sure you get the Shiraz..... ;-)

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:20 pm

Hi Alexandra

thank you very much.

That is no good idea to get the hubby drunk, not at all. It is much better to go with him to www.wolfordshop.co.uk and then, I'm sure, 254mm opening are no problem at all (and of course with the new mount

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:27 pm

Hi Ken

thank you for your understanding. We do have only Penfolds shiraz in the cellar. You are invited to check it at any time

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:33 pm

Great first results with the PST mod. Keep them coming.

best

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:58 pm

Hi Pedro

thank you very much. I will as soon as the sun shows up again. That may take some days here

Dennis Put · Post by **Dennis Put** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 5:26 pm

Wow, that's an excellent image, beautiful

vidman · Post by **vidman** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:04 pm

First of all, Walter this is an amazing image. Great skill on your part.

Secondly, You all are funny! I am really enjoying this thread.

BTW....My wife can drink me under the table with wine so it doesn't work with me. For some reason I don't think lingerie on my part would work either. I am very happy she is into Astronomy and Solar more then I. I always say, "Stephen says we need this." Poor Stephen when she catches him at NEAF. I think I owe him a wine (or pancakes).

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:22 pm

Hi Cai Uso, Denise and Chuck

thank you very much for the flowers.

@Chuck That is a very good excuse "Stephen said ..." I'll try that too

Derek Klepp · Post by **Derek Klepp** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:53 pm

Looks promising

MapleRidge · Post by **MapleRidge** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:03 pm

Hi Walter...

Those are agreat set of images...excellent work.

I have had a silly grin whle reading all the posts...too bad I can't get the attitude agjustment working with my wife...wine/lingerie/what ever

hmy:

Oh well...cloudy and windy here tonight...maybe time for my attitude adjustment...shot of Scotch anyone

Brian

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:07 am

Hi Derek, Brian and Apollo

thank you very much

Derek Klepp · Post by **Derek Klepp** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 10:32 am

After fully reading this thread it seems to me that regardless of gender we are all in similar boats albeit on different oceans. Walter those pics are very good and Alexandra you already have all the components there and Mark in the same country to guide those mods if local help is needed. Walter I would be very interested when the weather permits if you could give a comparison with different apertures seeing obliging of course.
Finally Ken, D'Arenberg Mclaren Vale Deadarm Shiraz very nice. Although for consistency and at a much cheaper price the D'Arenberg Custodian Grenache.But and this is my final offer the D'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cab Sav is phenomonal and very underrated.Brian I just enjoy the rarebreed boubon but single malt is good.
Cheers Derek

Post by **Montana** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:57 am

astroshot · Post by **astroshot** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 12:58 pm

Walter,
May I ask how you got the modded PST to come to focus on the TEC140?
Did you remove the black box at the back of the PST?

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:51 pm

After fully reading this thread it seems to me that regardless of gender we are all in similar boats albeit on different oceans. Walter those pics are very good and Alexandra you already have all the components there and Mark in the same country to guide those mods if local help is needed. Walter I would be very interested when the weather permits if you could give a comparison with different apertures seeing obliging of course.

Cheers Derek

Hi Derek

thank you very much. I'll make those experiments. I guess we have a week without sunshine, but then spring should come and so the sun. I'll report

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 2:54 pm

Finally Ken, D'Arenberg Mclaren Vale Deadarm Shiraz very nice. Although for consistency and at a much cheaper price the D'Arenberg Custodian Grenache.But and this is my final offer the D'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cab Sav is phenomonal and very underrated.Brian I just enjoy the rarebreed boubon but single malt is good.
Cheers Derek

Hi Derek

thank you very much for the hint D'Aarenberg Coppermine Road Cab Sav, are you sure it is not contaning to much copper

. Please tell us, what you pay for a bottle down under

Post by **Merlin66** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:04 pm

"Eppalock Ridge" 2002 - Heathcote Shiraz = $52/ bottle

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:11 pm

Hi Ken

thank you very much. I'll have a look out for that bottle, although I usually do not spend less than 100 $ per bottle

Just joking

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:17 pm

Hi Michael

thank you very much. As Stephen used to say on a thread in the other forum a year ago "just take the hack saw" . No, I'm joking .

The TEC 140 has enough inward focus, that you can reach the right distance for the PST eatlon to come into focus. It is a Mod 2, which means, I adapt only the Etalon to the scope, the PST body sits on the bench and watches what is going on

Post by **solarchat** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:19 pm

The hacksaw is good...

Hey, I have an extra LS50F external etalon. maybe I should do a mod project?

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:23 pm

Hi Stephen

of course you have to do that mod. I'm looking forward to your results :woohoo:

Post by **Merlin66** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:25 pm

http://www.astroimagem.com/Mybestimages ... tivity.htm
Some inspiration from Roger Marcon's 150mm Ha scope - he uses a SM60 external etalon in the optical path (note: no ERF up front)

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:50 pm

Hi Ken

thank you very much for the link. It's dead. I think Rogerio now works with a 200mm Zeiss lense

Post by **Merlin66** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 3:59 pm

Walter,
I think you're correct about the Ziess "Upgrade"
I've just re-set the link to one which has worked for me...should be OK??

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:10 pm

Hi Ken

thank you very much. Yes now the link works perfect

Post by **marktownley** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 4:53 pm

I tried this configuration, only briefly, last weekend and could not get a focus. I need to double check all my distances, in particular exactly where the focal point lies from my 127mm frac. Just need sun to be out for long enough for me to persevere with this mod...

Post by **Merlin66** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:33 pm

Mark,
As you probably already know, and demonstrated above, this mod works very well.
Just take your time to "home" in on that majic 200mm etalon position...I'm sure you'll get there....

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:22 pm

Hi Mark

I'm with you. My first go with it and the 152 refrac did not work. But I will not give up, as you don't do

astroshot · Post by **astroshot** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:29 pm

the PST body sits on the bench and watches what is going on

swisswalter · Post by **swisswalter** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 6:34 pm

Hi Michael

I have a PST body for sale, any interest

Derek Klepp · Post by **Derek Klepp** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 11:30 pm

[quote]Finally Ken, D'Arenberg Mclaren Vale Deadarm Shiraz very nice. Although for consistency and at a much cheaper price the D'Arenberg Custodian Grenache.But and this is my final offer the D'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cab Sav is phenomonal and very underrated.Brian I just enjoy the rarebreed boubon but single malt is good.
Cheers Derek

Hi Derek

thank you very much for the hint D'Aarenberg Coppermine Road Cab Sav, are you sure it is not contaning to much copper

. Please tell us, what you pay for a bottle down underAround $60 Australian