Viually Observing the Sun......

[Solar-Cologne]

I am amazed at the international H-Alpha scene.

All users that I know in Germany and probably many users in solar-chat take pictures of the sun.

Who visually observes the H-Alpha sun ?

Please come out.

So I see here many H-Alpha Mods, especially for takeing Pictures of the Sun.

A visual H-Alpha telescope works differently than a photo scope.


sunny Greetings
Achim

[DeepSolar64]

Achim,
I am one who for now only observes the sun visually. I post my visual observations with a GONG guide image that I use to direct my observations. I do plan in time to get into solar imaging but even then when I do I will still post my visual observations here in addition to what I image. I think many imagers here are also visual observers, even if they do not give detailed reports of what they see.

Most imagers here use the same scopes that visual observers use. They just equip them differently.

James

[marktownley]

Hi Achim, I always enjoy a look visually but then I default to imaging, Mark

[MAURITS]

I obseve always visual first, before imaging.

[DeepSolar64]

There is a place here for both visual and imaging observers. What I love about imaging is how well it documents what is there. The sun changes sometimes by the minute. Visually that can be seen but nothing shows it better than time-lapse video!

James

[Montana]

I usually visually observe first, then like Mark go in with the camera The old solar coronograph is great for prominence sketching. I just wish I had more time (may be this year )

Alexandra

[DeepSolar64]

Good luck with that Alexandra. Post your sketches here when you do em'!

James

[Solar-Cologne]

Why am I asking for visual telescopes / observers here ?

Because I have found in the 10 years of H-Alpha observation that a video camera sees much more than the human eye ... as you know yourself.

But now the spirits are divided.

A H-Alphascope with which you can record video is by no means a good H-Alphascope for visual observation !



Why ?

As you saw in my posts about my H-Alpha conversions / mods, I've already tried and tested a lot.

I am always in consultation with Oliver Smie and Wolfgang Lille.

I know ALL commercial H-Alpha telescopes, Coronado Solarmax, Lunt 35mm - 230mm and Solarscope Scopes.
If I forget something, please tell me.

I don't know AiryLab High Resolution Solar Telescope HaT - 8 "SC for H-alpha and I haven't looked through a Daystar Quark,

What has the best H-alpha image on my eyes shown me in 10 years ?

A PST mod.

But a PST mod with little glass in the system.

My PST Mod use:
a Skywarcher 6" f8 ( Mod f=10, 120mm eff, Diameter )
a C-ERF....NOT a D-ERF ....its terrible......Tested in the Year 2015 !!!
a PST-Etalon with its afocal lens system, or without and a real Telezentric.
a 5mm PST-BF....without PST - ERF !!!...and not a BF 15 or greater !
a Zeiss-Abbe Barlow....or
a Reducer 0,5 x
and at least an Okular, specifically a Microskopokular, WF..Widefield ..Suitable for pair of glasses....not an Astro-Ocular !

As an alternative, of course, I also use binocular approaches.
Zeiss Large field binoculars, ATM-Televue Large field binocular and Siebert Black Night BinoViewer only with microscope eyepieces, Type WF.

With a WF 20x Ocular ( 12,5 mm ) monoculkar and the Zeiss-Abbe with Click-Lock i became 216 x Magnification and i dont need any Doublestack in this small H-Alpha Field !.

But I still have some errors in my system that I have to correct. Over the time, new ideas come up by talking often with Oliver and Wolfgang.

It is sad that there are no more C-ERFs produced !!!

If You have any Questions about this so I will answer:

sunny Greetings
Achim

[eroel]

Achim:
As an old timer in the hobby, I usually do a visual observation and then image the object.
Can not do it CaK because my eyes don´t help in that region.
Best regards,
Eric.

[DeepSolar64]

What is the difference between a C-ERF and a D-ERF?

[Solar-Cologne]

Hello Eric,

I am 62 Years old..and an Oldtimer too.....


Hello James,

The C-ERF energy protection filters reflect bluish and dark red.
When looking through it, a deep dark red sun disc appears.
They were the first energy protection filters for H-Alpha ..... but probably too expensive to manufacture.

The D-ERFs that I tested in 2015 reflect milky light green and when I looked through, I saw a glowing green sun disc.

Not suitable for Fabry-Perot-Etalons !!!
ONLY for Daystar and Solar Spectrum.

That still applies today.
Check out the Baader Planetarium website, ....D-ERF.

Baader Warning Post.jpg (23.33 KiB) Viewed 5395 times

That is why all D-ERF users still use pre-filters that can never improve the image compared to a real C-ERF.
And the sundisk in the Ocular at the Eyes is getting darker !!!

Have a look, two Posts before......My PST-Mod Components.



sunny Greetings
Achim

[DeepSolar64]

Achim,

Thanks for explaining the differences between the two ERF types. I am new to Ha Solar astronomy and am still learning. My Coronado SM 60 has a red filter ahead of the etalon on the front of the scope. Is this a D-ERF? The red color would indicate that it would pass red light and block others. It could however simply just be a red piece of figured optical glass.

James

[Solar-Cologne]

James,

Yes, this in a C-ERF, also the internal ERFs in the Lunts.

I will sent you a PN, because I cannot write a public comment here in the forum.

Achim

[DeepSolar64]

James,

Yes, this in a C-ERF, also the internal ERFs in the Lunts.

Achim

I suspected a C-ERF by the red coloration. Stay well and stay safe, Achim.

James

[Solar-Cologne]

Dear James,

Thank you for the good wishes.

I am and stay healthy.

The nice Lord wants me to watch H-Alpha with my 120mm Bino in the future with two eyes.

You and all SolarChat users also stay healthy and alert.

There is only one corona ..... the solar corona.

This Picture is taken at 29.03.2006 from Sebastian Voltmer, please note the copyright
www.weltraun.com


sunny Greetings
Achim

[DeepSolar64]

Achim,

I just wish we had something to view or image the corona outside of a solar eclipse. We can do the photosphere and chromosphere but not the corona.

Stay well my friend.

James

[Valery]

What is the difference between a C-ERF and a D-ERF?

DERF = Dielectric Energy Rejection Filter

CERF = Cold Energy Rejection Filter

Cold means that the red glass remains relatively colder than simple red glass (due to IR/UV reflection coating on it).

CERF of large size are problematic - good quality red glass of such size is VERY expensive.

DERF are different. They can transmit mostly red light (like Baader one) or two bands H-a and CaK (like ARIES).


Valery

[Solar-Cologne]

Hello Valery,

Thank you for your detailed explanation.
I still don't know exactly how the new D-ERF series from Baader behaves.
As I said, my test took place in 2015

I know the NEW Baader and ARIES D-ERFs, but I have never used one or observed it.
I hope that in the near future I will have the opportunity to form my own opinion.

sunny Greetings
Achim

[Solar-Cologne]

What I forgot, very important for a visually Scope:

All H-Alpha components except an internal etalon are installed slightly tilted.

The ERF filter and the block filter to banish the reflections from the optical axis,


Today i tested one Refraktor for my Binoscope 120mm Aperture 6"f8 (H-Alpha f=10 ) with 135er C-ERF, PST-Etalon, Matsumoto EMS U-L, erecting Mirror System, PST BF 5mm a little bit tilted without the original ITF-Filter, Zeiss-Abbe Barlow with ClickLock 2,25 x and a Microskopocular WF 20x ( 12,5mm ).

It was a little cloudy in front of the sun, but still 216 x magnification ... wouw.

in the Bino 302 x !!!

You have to consider that when you look at real bino, our brain produces a 1.4 x larger image than monocular.

With Two Scopes....?.....400 x......500 x....we will see.

Do the test yourself with binoculars.
Alternately cover one of the lenses ....

sunny Greetings
Achim

[Solar-Cologne]

If someone has a question to implement a visual H-Alpha telescope with their existing equipment, I will be happy to help with advice and action.

Oliver Smie and Wolfgang Lille as well.

We often talk to each other on the phone.

[Solar-Cologne]

Hello sun friends,

Today also a mercilessly good seeing in the sun.

Lunt 60Ha BF 1200 with BG38, Zeiss-Abbe-Barlow with KlickLock 2.25 x and Lunt Zoom to a whopping 7.2mm ...... 156x ..... Wouw!

And with the BG38 prefilter !!!

This is not a fairy tale, anyone who knows me knows that ..... profitable and very contrasting.

The prominences (photo by GONG) at 2 p.m. are in the lunt at 8 a.m.



sunny greetings
Achim

Sonne 05.04.2020.jpg (440.11 KiB) Viewed 5136 times

[DeepSolar64]

Achim,
156x and usable is awesome on a 60mm Ha scope visually! Only on a handful of occasions have I been able to exceed 50x with mine. Even my 70mm white light scope is taxed with powers that high. I usually run 16x to 33x on my Coronado. Full disk. I usually run my Orion white light scope between 25x and 50x though I do sometimes use higher powers when looking for pores. Yesterday I ordered an Altair white light wedge to use on my Astro-Tech AT72EDII and my Celestron 102 Refractors.

Keep posting your visual observations.

James

[DeepSolar64]

Achim,

Was the Lunt 60 running single stack or double stack? Your scope is either far better than mine, or you average far better seeing or have better eyesight than I do. Or all of the above!

I would like to hear other visual observers on the forum's experiences with high power Ha observations, especially with smaller aperture Ha scopes.

James

[Solar-Cologne]

Good morning James,

My LS60Ha BF 1200 without pressure tuning is single stack.

It was the test device from M.Ludes / APM here in Germany, for the test for the magazine "Stars and Space".
Lambert Spix, author of Moonhopper, received it for testing Lunt / APM.

Through small detours I was very lucky to buy this Lunt60 used very cheap ..... unsaleable forever.

Someone has already offered me a lot ... NO!

James, sorry....I have both, an exorbitant good LS60Ha and often an exorbitant good Seeing.....Sun, Moon and Planets.

The Moon last Night in the 10 "Lomo f6 Dobsonian, 15% Obstruction with Baader Widefield Binoviewer 2.6 x glass path and 9.5mm eyepieces was a revelation.



sunny Greetings
Achim

[MalVeauX]

Achim,

I actually love visual solar, it's a daily treat. I have scopes from 40mm to 200mm for HA with binos. I actually prefer simply looking with my 60mm double stack the most, because of high contrast, a full disc FOV, sharp, never an issue with seeing, and happy with binos for stereo viewing. From there, I really enjoy my 120mm for high res looks visually at something specific. I rarely use my larger scopes visually as they're more imaging instruments.

Very best,

[DeepSolar64]

Marty,
I am gonna have to invest in a binoviewer.

Achim,
It sounds like your single-stack has better contrast than my double stack does.

[Solar-Cologne]

Hello Marty,

Congratulations on 200mm H-Alpha .... wouw.

And a warm welcome among the visual sun watchers.

I like the complete disk with binoviewer in my LS60Ha too.....without Doublestack.

Yes, a Binoviewer is a "must have".
At best a widefiild binoviewer from Zeiss 28mm diameter from a microscope user forum.
Do not buy the German product .... it is the same, only too expensive.

I use 4 Binoviewers .... !!!

I know why ... laugh.

sunny Greetings
Achim

[Solar-Cologne]

Hi James,

Read my last Post about a Binoviewer, please.

"t sounds like your single-stack has better contrast than my double stack does."

It was not for nothing that Lunt / APM chose it for a test in Germany .... I better not say more......i am very happy with this Scope.

sunny Greetings
Achim

[Solar-Cologne]

Today it should be cloudy ... tomorrow, Wednesday again sunshine.

Cologne Solar Observatory-Sleeping.JPG (1.86 MiB) Viewed 3263 times

[DeepSolar64]

It looks like they are ready to go when the clouds clear.