White Light solar Imaging Setup

[MjrTom]

Hello guys and gals

I thought I would share with you my very humble setup that I currently use for my White Light imaging of the sun.
Currently it comprises of a Skywatcher Equinox 80 APO PRO f/6.3 refractor mounted on an Astrotrac TT320X-AG and matching wedge
The camera being used is a Canon 7D 18mp DSLR.
In the optical path there is a Canon 1.4x teleconverter and 2x teleconverter stacked to convert the scope to f/18 and provide a full disk image of the sun.
Attached to the 50mm extension tube is a stack of Baader UV/IR cut & Continuum filters.







I have now managed to nail polar alignment of this mount after taking Alexandra's (Montana) advise.
Although the sun has not been around much today I have centred the solar disc in the centre of the chip and after checking every 5-10 minutes in breaks in the cloud the sun is still aligned.

My intentions are as soon I have raised the capital required I shall be purchasing an Imaging Source Camera
DMK 21AU04.AS Mono (CCD ICX098BL from Sony)
DMK 21AU618.AS Mono (CCD ICX618ALA from Sony)
DMK 31AU03.AS Mono(CCD ICX204AL, from Sony)

May I ask what's the difference between the ICX098BL & ICX618ALA CDD Chip?
Which is more appropriate for solar imaging in white light and in future Ha as well?

I would also like to get a more substantial mount such as the HEQ5 for my Vixen 102mm f/10 achromat as currently this scope is a bit unwieldy on a small mount like the astrotrac. currently it is used mainly for single DSLR shot or visible work mounted on a heavy duty manual Alt/Az mount on the form of a Giro III with HEQ5 steel tripod.
My intentions further down the line is to build a PST stage 1 mod using this scope.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[MjrTom]

Image taken today with setup above.


16 March 2012 White light full disc by Mark S Payne, on Flickr

Really only a record shot due to the thick clouds but it does show that the ND3.8 solar film lets far more light through it than the standard ND5.0 film.
Previously exposure values were 1/30 second @ ISO400
With the ND3.8 the values are 1/60 second @ ISO100
With clear blue skies that should increase to about 1/250 or 1/500 second @ISO100
Thats with the Baader Continuum filter fitted that absorbs a lot of the light that passes through the optics.

Thanks for entertaining my Noobie posts

[marktownley]

Great setup there Mark that delivers excellent results!

[Montana]

Great glad to hear you are getting along nicely. I don't usually pop over here (as I don't understand what anyone is talking about). I love your picture! but I have no idea about the chip differences in the DMK's. I think (don't quote me on it) that the newer versions chip is more light sensitive especially in the hydrogen alpha range. But honestly I'm no help when it comes to all this fancy mounts, nuts and bolts bit. I usually ask Mark, then show my husband what Mark says

Regards
Alexandra

[MjrTom]

Thanks Mark & Alexandra

In hindsight I should have probably put it in the Solar Chat section to be honest.

[swisswalter]

Hi Mark

if a mod with a PST then go stage 2. Much more fun

[MjrTom]

Hello Walter.
Thanks for your input.
My thinking was to initially do a stage 1 PST mod for cost reasons.
If I go mod 1 first whilst I save up the additional cash to purchase the larger blocking filter, focuser and adapters which would (I guess) would be a good few hundred pounds on top of the initial outlay.

To do a PST mod 1 I just need a PST donor scope and an ERF for the front objective plus a nosepiece adapter to join it all together.
is that correct?
Is this a reasonable approach?

[swisswalter]

Hi Mark

I understand. Yes you are correct. Go ahead. We wait for the first light

[MjrTom]

Thanks again.

How do you attach the PST black box unit from a PST to a 102mm f/10 refractor with 2" Moonlite focuser?
Are these adapters readily available from retailers or do you have to fabricate one yourself?

Thanks
Mark

[swisswalter]

Hi Mark

these adapters are ready on stock, for example

http://www.aokswiss.ch/index_zub.html

[marktownley]

Hi Mark

these adapters are ready on stock, for example

http://www.aokswiss.ch/index_zub.html

Thanks for that Walter, I was going to email you and ask where you got your adapters from, now I shall email these guys instead. I hope they have a lot in stock, they should pay you commision

[Derek Klepp]

Mark I don't use those cameras but have a few mates that do for planetary stuff.The 618 is much more sensitive so for us Solar observers I figure it would be a bonus when imaging Prominences. Especially feitnter ones but would also show more structure in others.