Ha-FD-DS50-2x-cemax-zwo183mm-2xbinning-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
Ha-FD-DS50-2x-cemax-zwo183mm-2xbinning-colour by Mark Townley, on FlickrThe above disk was taken with the double stack Lunt 50 setup on the 60mm f6 scope, 2x cemax barlow (it runs about 2.25x with the camera) and the ZWO183mm with 2x binning. I'm experimenting with the camera recording in 12bit, and have to say in this mode it seems to take ages for the histogram to max out. I had the gain running on 50 which should give me about 12 bits of dynamic range - as the gain is increased the effective dynamic range decreases. I'm quite liking using the camera in this way, but there are more experiments to do before I settle.
I only had time to capture 3 recordings before the clouds closed in again so started to process them. Looking at the live satellite feed I could see that I had another blue gap heading my way, and while it looked good, experience tells me that by about 8.30-9.00am in these conditions the instability would set in and a 'new layer' of cloud would form. I decided to get the Coronado DS90 out, as feel have been neglecting it of late, and using the nosepeice of the 2x cemax on the ZWO290mm (gives a bit less than 2x) I decided to go fishing the cracks for a solar catch. Seeing was all over the place and there was a 'range' on the focuser that worked rather than just one spot, so, record lots of frames and hope for the best.
AR13030 was looking very dramatic and dynamic and with clear skies would be a great subject for an animation.
ar13030-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ar13030-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-colour by Mark Townley, on FlickrAlso departing on the limb Ar13031 looks to have life left in it yet:
ar13031-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ar13031-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-colour by Mark Townley, on FlickrA couple of smaller active regions were crackling away:
ar13038-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm.-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ar13038-DS90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm.-colour by Mark Townley, on Flickr
small-ar-Ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
small-ar-Ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-colour by Mark Townley, on FlickrBy now I was fighting and imaging through the scudding clouds, but I couldn't resist the proms!
proms-1-ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
proms-1-ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-colour by Mark Townley, on Flickr
proms-2-ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
proms-2-ds90-2x-cemax-zwo290mm-colour by Mark Townley, on FlickrI would have liked more time to explore visually with the DS90 but the clouds were in for the day at this point. I'm really pleased with the haul as the weather forecast initially for today was not good at all. My clear sky window might have been brief but I managed to use it well!
Hope you like these, I'm hoping to observe first thing in the morning before I got to work.
MArk
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