Finally testing new CaK filter stack

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Merlin66
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Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

I've recently upgraded the Omega (three filter) CaK stack to include a Baader CCD (Blue) filter as an ERF. I also added a SkyBender filter tilter - to bring the 2A filter closer to CWL.

Been frustrated by the weather - if not rain then thick cloud...
Well, this morning there was thin high cloud so let's give it a go. Mounted on the ED80/HEQ5, with the ASI 174MM - Success!!!!!

The video files (to be processed ASAP) clearly show the current sunspot groups and large areas of bright flocculi.

The 2" filter spacer tubes hold the Baader CCD-B well in front of the stack; inside the tube, in front of the gold SkyBender is a 390nm cut filter (acts as a secondary ERF) then about 30mm spacer to a 80nm bandwith 394nm CWL filter as a pre-filter then finally the 2A bandwidth, 393.7nm CWL mounted in the SkyBender.....

I'm impressed!!! It actually works!!!
So far so good.
Onwards and Upwards
Arrangement of CaK filter stack
Arrangement of CaK filter stack
100_3486.JPG (271.53 KiB) Viewed 5048 times
CaK filter stack ASI174MM
CaK filter stack ASI174MM
100_3485.JPG (255.74 KiB) Viewed 5048 times
ED80 CaK stack ASI 174mm
ED80 CaK stack ASI 174mm
100_3484.JPG (284.68 KiB) Viewed 5048 times


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Valery »

Congratulates with a new setup version! But we'd like to see the images you took with it.


Valery


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

SkyBurner, yeah.... I sent you an email about this SkyBender.....
Valery,
Just processing the images - coming soon...


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

This image is probably representative of my ability to focus and tune the filter stack....
Processed in AS3!, no wavelets no curves.....
CaK filter stack, ED80+ASI 174
CaK filter stack, ED80+ASI 174
CaK_112110_220618.png (1.6 MiB) Viewed 5036 times


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

A touch of colour and re-aligned axis.....
CaK_220618a.png
CaK_220618a.png (1.63 MiB) Viewed 5032 times
CaK_112110_crop.png
CaK_112110_crop.png (461.2 KiB) Viewed 5032 times


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

I bought an ASI 183MM earlier this year to compliment the shorter focal length ED80 and "improve resolution" for solar imaging.
Cutting a looooong story very short, ZWO finally admitted "technical problems when the ASI 183 is used for narrow band solar imaging" and accepted a return.
I'm now looking seriously at the ASI 1600MM as a replacement.


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Valery »

Thanks, Ken, for the images.

Seems to me that a single Lunt B600 CaK is much better than this army of filters and mechanics.

May be if good filters will become available, the skybender will get a good use.


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

I probably agree, but at a total price of a few hundred dollars it's much cheaper than the commercial options.....


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Valery »

I'd better pay more for a real result, than pay several hundreds backs for doubtful result.


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by marktownley »

Cool setup Ken and nice results!


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

Thanks Mark, appreciate.
The conditions were far from ideal.
I hope to get better weather and a better camera soon.


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by marktownley »

Something else to try Ken, imaging at that scale for full disk reduce the aperture - say 50mm, it will be much more friendly for the seeing and also put a slower light cone into the filters and tighter bandpass giving better contrast still.


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Re: Finally testing new CaK filter stack

Post by Merlin66 »

Mark,
Thanks for the suggestion.
I’ll try it the next opportunity.


"Astronomical Spectroscopy - The Final Frontier" - to boldly go where few amateurs have gone before
https://groups.io/g/astronomicalspectroscopy  
http://astronomicalspectroscopy.com
"Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" and
"Imaging Sunlight - using a digital spectroheliograph" - Springer
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