Solar goals?

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DeepSolar64
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Solar goals?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

I am curious. What are your solar goals for the upcoming future? It of course can be anything related to solar observing and imaging.

Mine is to observe and document all of Solar Cycle 25 using a combination of my visual observations, GONG and SDO images and images of my own and others. To complete a thorough comprehensive record of Solar Cycle 25 and make it my own!

James


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by marktownley »

Interesting question James!

Certainly in the short term (by next spring) I want to develop the mount for the 'travelling kit' so I can take the 8" HaT out of the city to better seeing conditions to use it to potential - but, this is with caveat that said mounting system needs to be 'boat friendly' in terms of portability. Boat friendly is a step up in size than 'airline friendly'. This new mid scale mount needs to be nighttime friendly for my 4" triplet I have on order which I want to capitalise on the 'darker' night skies of the canal for some moon and planet viewing... I think a second hand eq5 will probably be where I go with this...

After this more tinkering with the CaK setup will follow as the days grow longer next year... I quite fancy dipping into WL imaging and viewing a bit more. For Ha i'm fancying a 6" frac as this is probably my realistic 'use relatively frequently' scope when based at home for 656nm...

Longer term my mind is on the total eclipse in Iceland in 2026, the setup that goes there, how I view / image it... decisions decisions!

Throughout this period I just hope for clear skies when i'm not at work and have free time!

Mark


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by AndiesHandyHandies »

Hi

Stop messing with the PST Mod? Get it working with the binoviewers on an Ioptron Alt-Az mount. For comfy, non-rotating, viewing.

Quarks on RuMak 180.

Start drawing visual views.

350mm solar mod.

Image proms.

Cheers. Andrew.


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

I think you know where I am going James, so whatever happens - will happen.

But Mark, for Iceland, surely you would not consider motoring there with your boat eh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He he !

Terry


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Mark,
I am considering a 6" frac myself. Probably a Sky-Watcher or Celestron Achromat for white light. A Lunt CaK filter, Celestron AVX mount and a binoviewer is also a possibility sometime in Solar Cycle 25. And then there is a Sodium D line Quark!

Andrew,
Ha Quarks I presume? Have you ever thought of Sodium D Line or Magnesium?

Terry,
Mark could be a modern viking in a LONGboat! :lol:

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
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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
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by Carbon60 »

Good question, James.
I’m going to continue the process of continuous improvement across the spectrum and over a range of image scales. I’m looking forward to some humongous sunspots as cycle 25 develops and to imaging these in CaK, WL and Ha. I’m also looking forward to some powerful CMEs to entertain my magnetometer and further meteor storms for my radio meteor detector. Busy, busy…. :)

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/
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by JochenM »

Short/mid term, trying to get better at pulling images out of the equipment I have (I think I have most bases covered with filters and scopes). Especially CaK is where I feel I can still improve (one step at a time :) ).

Long term, I would like to do some WL/Continuum with my C9.25. But for the time being (with weather/conditions as they are here), I don't think it makes much sense yet just.


Jochen Maes
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by marktownley »

Ha ha ha, definitely not going on the boat to Iceland, that will be a flight for sure... Although it is possible to get a Ferry there...


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by Montana »

Great question James :) My goal is still the same as cycle 24, and probably the same for cycle 26 (if I get there)
1. Witness / image an X-class solar flare
2. Image at high res a post flare loop and do an animation
3. Witness and image a white light flare
4. study prominences and features of prominences in more depth
5. Study emerging flux regions in the blue wing at high res and study Ellerman bombs vs arch filament foot points
6. Do more sketching
7. Win Astronomy Photographer of the Year properly and be the first woman to win it
8. Actually understand what all the technical babble means that you lot talk about?

These will all probably never happen (especially the last :lol: ) but you have to aim high :)

Alexandra


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by GreatAttractor »

Short-term (this year):

1. Improve results from the RC8/LS50THa: new camera, better seeing.
2. Capture another flare animation with the RC8/LS50THa.
3. Capture ⩾M-class flare animation with the 90 mm setup.

Long-term:

1. Assemble an intermediate 127-mm class setup for Hα.
2. Travel to an excellent-seeing location with the RC8/LS50THa.


My software:
Stackistry — an open-source cross-platform image stacker
ImPPG — stack post-processing and animation alignment
My images

SW Mak-Cass 127, ATM Hα scopes (90 mm, 200 mm), Lunt LS50THa, ATM SSM, ATM Newt 300/1500 mm, PGR Chameleon 3 mono (ICX445)
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by Radon86 »

My goals are modest:

Understand the plasma physics of the sun
Understand the magnetic fluxes and field of the sun
Understand solar wind and its generation

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)
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by DavidP »

I’d like to make my pictures purdier.


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by rsfoto »

Hi James,

Cut down my neighbours Palm tree ...


regards Rainer

Observatorio Real de 14
San Luis Potosi Mexico

North 22° West 101°
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Wow, everyone. I have really enjoyed reading everyone's goals. All of you have some really good ones!

Mark,
I would love to go to the Faroe Islands! Plane, yes!

Alexandra,
I really like your X-Class/White light flare goal. But that one can be dangerous. Think " Carrington Event "!!

Rainer,
I really laughed hard when reading yours!

Keep em' coming!!

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

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Re: Solar goals?

Post by AndiesHandyHandies »

DeepSolar64 wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:41 am
Andrew,
Ha Quarks I presume? Have you ever thought of Sodium D Line or Magnesium?

Still working on H-alpha.

James


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by MAURITS »

My goal is to learn something about the sun on the kids in the classroom, I have made a PowerPoint presentation with lots of images and creative things ...


Regards,
Maurits

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www.vistadelcielo.be
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Maurits,
Passing on the knowledge and skills of solar astronomy to future amateur and professional astronomers. That’s an awesome goal!!

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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Re: Solar goals?

Post by Hughsie »

Hi James,

Two goals for me;

1) More consistency when setting up/imaging with the double stack I have recently acquired. It’s a faff at the moment and I know it should be less hard work getting it tuned.

2) Find a remote site to image the Sun from. I live at the bottom of a hill and even now I have limited observing/imaging time due to obstructions.

Good question btw.

John


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by Ivan »

My goal for a year or a year and a half is the Lunt60 and a new camera. I also want to learn how to shoot and edit photos with my new mod. I also think about DS 90mm for him. In general, all my thoughts are about the equipment.

In the long term, of course, I would like to find my place among colleagues in our hobby, I want more knowledge and experience. I would like to shoot cool FD in high resolution, learn how to make animations.

I support Alexandra in her quest to understand the technical aspects of our hobby: optics and electronics. Although I understand that my own knowledge is insignificant in comparison with her knowledge and experience. I would even venture to suggest creating something like, a new topic, where the most experienced of us in an accessible language would explain the basics of our hobby starting from the very basics.

Ivan


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Re: Solar goals?

Post by DeepSolar64 »

John and Ivan, You have awesome goals! Ivan, I agree with you on finding your place among the colleagues in our hobby. I have learned that I can learn more from within a group than I can on my own.

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

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