Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

this is the main message area for anything solar :)
Post Reply
User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

At lunchtime yesterday the clouds parted and I had some larger blue holes. So I set up the PSTs on the deck and sat in the sunshine and grabbed an image when I could. The birds were singing, the bees buzzing and the rats frolicking in the sunshine too.
I even set up the Halpha PST for visual which I haven't done for a long time. Now I have changed the blocking filter to a new one the view was amazing, just how I remember it to be. I used to sketch the disc in the old days but in the past few years I could hardly see anything. Yesterday the view was superb and I could see everything on the image only better (in colour). The zoom lens was fab too as I could zoom right into the active regions and not be lost in the darkness. I think sketching on holiday will be coming back soon :)

CaK and DS Halpha PST / FLIR Chameleon.

The Halpha is very patchy, I had a very bad blending problem :(

Image2021-03-25 Halpha disc f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

Image2021-03-25 Halpha disc by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_124702_25_03_2021_f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_124702_25_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

First close up in CaK (2x Barlow) I have been able to take in years!!
ImageSun_125152_25_03_2021_f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_125152_25_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

Raining today
Alexandra


User avatar
ffellah
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 11172
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2014 6:46 pm
Location: Westport, CT USA
Has thanked: 9145 times
Been thanked: 6026 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by ffellah »

Very nice, Alexandra ! It looks like you had a very serene session in the nature with the sun.

Franco


EGRAY_OBSERVATORY
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 6871
Joined: Mon May 18, 2020 4:45 pm
Location: Essex, S.E.England
Been thanked: 4900 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Excellent set of images Alexandra.
All the surface detail has come-out very well.

Thanks for sharing
Terry


solarnoob
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 86
Joined: Mon May 18, 2020 2:35 pm
Location: Washington DC
Has thanked: 56 times
Been thanked: 58 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by solarnoob »

Excellent images; the more I look at pictures on this forum, the more I become aware of how much more I have to learn.
Great stuff.

Frank


User avatar
MapleRidge
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 10199
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:58 pm
Location: Cambray, ON Canada
Has thanked: 64 times
Been thanked: 4340 times
Contact:

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by MapleRidge »

Very sharp images Alexandra :bow

Nice to see you had a break in the clouds and could take advantage of it.

Now you have me wondering...all the wildlife you mention that were in the garden sound like good company. But rats, lol???

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
User avatar
DeepSolar64
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 18829
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:19 am
Location: Lowndesville S.C.
Has thanked: 17581 times
Been thanked: 16697 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Beautiful Work Alexandra. The color you used on the CaK images reminds me of the SDO AIA1700 images which look quite similar.

SDOAIA1700_3-26-21.jpg
SDOAIA1700_3-26-21.jpg (179.88 KiB) Viewed 613 times


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

Image Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
User avatar
rcwinter
Im an EXPERT!
Im an EXPERT!
Posts: 212
Joined: Sun May 03, 2020 5:37 am
Location: Southampton UK
Has thanked: 191 times
Been thanked: 265 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by rcwinter »

Great set of images, been watching the the activity during the week but being at work not able the fire up the scope myself

:bow2

Detail is superb as always A1

Waiting for Sol to Rise

Richard


Baader DERF 90 & 160. Vixen SP102M Moonlite, Takahashi TOA130 Feathertouch 3.5, Takahashi FSQ106N, Daystar Quantum SE .4ang, Apollo Max, ZWO ASI 174MM. 2600mm, 178MM, Lumenera Skynx & Infinity 2
User avatar
Carbon60
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 14209
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lancashire, UK
Has thanked: 8418 times
Been thanked: 8165 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Carbon60 »

Sounds like an idyllic session, Alexandra. That’s what’s so appealing about solar astronomy. There’s nothing better than sitting in beautiful warm sunshine, in the garden with nature all around you.

Glad the views have improved. The results look excellent.

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/
User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

Thanks everyone, it was really relaxing :)
James the colour is exactly the what you say, although I haven't perfected a descent pink yet, I'm still working on it. I had the colour much better a few years ago ;) I get fed up with purple :)

I've lived with the rats under the birds feeders all winter but suddenly their population seems to have exploded and they are out and about all day long. They have started chasing the Wood pigeon, Stock Doves and Blackbirds all round the garden and getting a bit bold. I bought a trap yesterday and hopefully I can start a relocation program going across the river :)

Alexandra


User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

Very cute!
DSC00123s.jpg
DSC00123s.jpg (1.02 MiB) Viewed 593 times


User avatar
MAURITS
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 8507
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:37 pm
Location: Belgium
Has thanked: 2412 times
Been thanked: 4787 times
Contact:

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by MAURITS »

Great set of images Alexandra.
Are these tame rats .... Brrr...


Regards,
Maurits

Vista del Cielo Observatory

www.vistadelcielo.be
User avatar
arnedanielsen
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 7285
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:42 pm
Location: Vestby, Norway
Has thanked: 6181 times
Been thanked: 7142 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by arnedanielsen »

Sounds like you're enjoying springtime! Nice set of images!

Best regards,
Arne


Best regards,
Arne
--
AstroBin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/arnedani/
User avatar
eroel
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 9408
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:45 pm
Location: México D.F.
Been thanked: 4904 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by eroel »

Alexandra:
I agree with Stu, it was an idyllic session.
Have a nice weekend.
Eric.


User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42274
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20442 times
Been thanked: 10248 times
Contact:

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by marktownley »

Great images Alexandra! Slow catching up on the forum this weekend. Not sure Mori would like your furry friends, he's not very tolerant of anything smaller than him that he can catch...


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!
User avatar
Stardust5858
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1500
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:44 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 1182 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Stardust5858 »

Lovely captures Alexandra, great your PST is back in shape again. Rats have no chance in my garden with my two cat's, especially my big Norwegian forest cat, lol. Thanks for sharing.
Attachments
IMG_20210323_113505.jpg
IMG_20210323_113505.jpg (3.08 MiB) Viewed 554 times


10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.

2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

Thanks guys :)

Last summer I was plagued by cats, had an anti cat radar and they still wouldn't go away. I gave up as it also put off the hedgehog and was annoying to my ears as well (but not the cats). Where are the pesky cats now? not a sign of them, I think the rats have chased them away like everything else. No luck in my rat trap yet.

Alexandra


User avatar
DeepSolar64
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 18829
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:19 am
Location: Lowndesville S.C.
Has thanked: 17581 times
Been thanked: 16697 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Alexandra
The Brown Rat aka Norway Rat! Around here we call em" " Warf Rats ". My dad had pigs years ago and they had dug tunnels in and around the pig lots. They would get into the rabbit cage and chicken pen and eat their food too and they would attack the weak and younger chickens. They are smart critters too. It takes a good cat to catch and kill them. When I was growing up I would shoot them using BB guns or a 22 rifle and even tried with a bow and arrow.

And yes they are cute! I have Grey Squirrels. Fuzzy tailed Tree Rats! :lol:

Outside of getting a cat or a terrier try a rat trap, rat poison or use a carbonated beverage like Coke. It must be fresh when they get it. They can't get rid of the Co2 gas like we can, :lol: and it kills them, blows them up! No, they don't explode :lol: . Only kill them if they are being pests and hurting something. The problem with rats is they reproduce wildly, can be destructive and can carry fleas and disease.

I just noticed you have a rat trap. Is it the kind that kills them or a live capture trap?

My big black Maine Coon cat Salem catches rats and everything else! They would not have it easy with him around.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rat


Mark,
Is Mory a cat?

James

PS. Ok back to solar . ;)


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

Image Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

Thanks James,
They aren't harming anyone as they are at the bottom of the garden, however they are starting to chase the birds so they can keep the food for themselves which is sad for the doves and pigeons. I bought a cage humane trap so I can relocate them down by the river (and hope they aren't homing pigeons). I have also stopped putting bird food on the floor. I haven't caught one yet, they are too clever. I would never use poison as it is a cruel and slow death and it also contaminates the food chain and dangerous to hedgehogs and pets. The coke idea also seems cruel, I have seen videos of students who have swallowed liquid nitrogen for a laugh, it isn't pretty ;)

Mory is Mark's cat :) but he has a tendency for Magpies rather than rats :)

Alexandra


User avatar
Radon86
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 779
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 10:05 pm
Has thanked: 745 times
Been thanked: 660 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Radon86 »

Hello Alexandra/Montana,

Thanks for posting again the full disc images again with your PST ?
I thought you had a DSF-100 solarscope ? I once thought about buying a DSF-100 solarscope but was put off by the price !!
I wondered if you just had the 100mm front etalon from www.solarscope.co.uk, and then fit a suitable blocking filter ? and you have your own refractor of choice ?

Maybe second hand ones would be more affordable for me ?
I am working hard and saving up for a DSF-100 solarscope !!

Clear skies !
Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
User avatar
Montana
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 34563
Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2011 5:25 pm
Location: Cheshire, UK
Has thanked: 17672 times
Been thanked: 8793 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Montana »

Hi Magnus,

I do still have the Solarscope DSF100, it is front mounted on to my TEC140. They come with blocking filters, 2 in fact, one which is brighter to allow the same amount of light transmission when using the double stack compared to the single stack. This is so that you remove the annoyance that double stack images are darker, this is not the case with Solarscope, they are still just as bright and just as glorious in single stack or double stack.

The problem is that over winter the Sun doesn't touch down in my garden so using it is very difficult. In February I can start imaging again but on Friday the Sun was so fleeting there wasn't the time, it was easier to plonk the PSTs on the deck and image in 10 minutes. I go with what is possible :)

Buying a second hand version would be good but I am not sure that many have been made so finding a second hand one will be rare but possible.

Alexandra


User avatar
Radon86
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 779
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2019 10:05 pm
Has thanked: 745 times
Been thanked: 660 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by Radon86 »

Thanks Alexandra,
That's good to know. Very clever to have 2 different filters like that. Hopefully, I will own a DSF filter, maybe a smaller size one !
There is some better weather this week, so get ready for daytime solar imaging !!

Magnus


Solar: H-alpha": Quark Chromosphere filter; Baader white light filters
Scopes: Altair Astro Travel ED70mm (F 420mm, D=70mm);; Skywatcher 90mm (F 910mm D=90mm); GSO focuser;;Altair Astro 60mm guidescope (D=60mm,F=225mm)
Cameras: ASI120mm-S,ASI174mm
Mount: SW HEQ5 Pro, SW EQ3 Pro Synscan (SW = Skywatcher),Vixen Polarie tracker (portable setup)
Accessory: SW Auto-focuser
User avatar
DeepSolar64
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 18829
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:19 am
Location: Lowndesville S.C.
Has thanked: 17581 times
Been thanked: 16697 times

Re: Lunchtime Sun 25th March 2021

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Alexandra,
As long as they are not hurting anything then I would not bother them. And they certainly are clever. I have seen that first hand. I certainly appreciate your compassion for animals.

I just got through imaging. Wish me luck.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

Image Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Post Reply