June Solar Challenge

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June Solar Challenge

Post by Montana »

June is solstice month :hamster: where we are at either mid summer or mid winter, so the Sun is either at it's highest or lowest altitude depending on where you are on our wonderful planet Earth.

The Solar challenge this month is no surprise as I told you last month, let's do a type of analemma, but a straight version and record the solar tracks over 6 months and look at the change in altitude the Sun makes in your area. They will all be different depending on where you live and depending on your weather. This image will also track how good or bad your weather is.

If you are feeling crafty you can make your own https://www.eyeofthetynephotography.co. ... a-beer-can

or you can buy ready made
https://solarcan.co.uk/
https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/so ... amera.html
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other- ... amera.html
Just google 'Solarcan' to look about for the best deal in your area, or buy direct from Solarcan.

I've done this twice using a ready made Solarcan and I placed it quite high up on my house, but you can place it anywhere so long as no one steals it over the 6 months, here was mine from a couple of years ago

ImageSolarcan deployed for the solstice by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr
ImageSolarcan deployed for the solstice by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

My first image has the pin hole in the middle of the can and it missed off the summer tracks of the Sun

Image2019-12-24 Solarcan v3 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

The second year I made my own pin hole nearer to the top of the can with a pin and left the premade one covered. This is because it is a camera obscura and the image is projected upside down https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_obscura

Still I didn't make the summer tracks - just ;)
ImageSolarcan 2020 negative by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

This time I have gone for something different and I am trying out the Solarcan colours and I have noticed that the Solarcan pin hole has changed place to near the top!!! (the black patch) so no fiddling with a pin this time.

ImageSolarcan mission June 2022 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

Please post your images here of your cans in position, what you have, how you made them. Or, if you were clever enough to see in your crystal ball, your hot out of the can images from December-June 2022 :hamster:

Have fun and get climbing the ladders (no accidents please).

Alexandra

PS here is the link to the lovely talk that Sam Cornwell did for us in May https://btcloud.bt.com/web/app/share/vi ... d60fdf06a7


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by ffellah »

Thank you for posing this challenge Alexandra ! :D

Franco


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Carbon60 »

Hi Alexandra,

Set up ready to peel the cover off the pin hole on June 21st :) I glued the can with epoxy onto a wooden pole and screwed the pole to a fence post. The biggest challenge was finding a suitable location.
1550E6E7-0506-4472-939E-F85F1D581A14.jpeg
1550E6E7-0506-4472-939E-F85F1D581A14.jpeg (571.28 KiB) Viewed 2897 times
Let’s see what emerges in 6 months time.

Great challenge.

Stu.


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by nicspenceryork »

Here's one of my two Spring 2022 solargraphs. I underestimated the sun's ability to grow twigs so quickly directly in front of this solarcan so had to take it down before solstice! The other is still going strong. I'll put my solar chat June challenge solarcan up at summer solstice.

ImageNS solargraph 20 03 2022 - 01 06 2022 by Nic Spencer, on Flickr

Can't wait to see them all,
Nic


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Montana »

Wow!! I love it!! I don't think you can beat that, we probably won't have any more Sun this June anyway :lol: it looks so 3D!! :bow :hamster:

Alexandra


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by marktownley »

Champion! Well done Nic!


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

EXCELLENT RESULT NIC

THKS VM

TERRY


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by nicspenceryork »

I'm full of tea and cake after a lovely afternoon of village platinum jubilee celebrations and, the icing on my Solarchat cake: I find my image is SPOD!
Wasn't expecting that all! Thrilled to bits!
Thank you for your kind comments.
I generally try to go for gentle processing on images but thought I'd throw caution to the wind this time and go bold with this solargraph!
I've used the emboss feature in the processing and tweaked the curve into an S shape which gave the 3D appearance... in fact so great is the 3D effect, it unexpectedly brought out my autograph! You can see my thumb print half way down the right hand side of the curve!!
Nic


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Carbon60 »

nicspenceryork wrote: Sat Jun 04, 2022 2:55 pm I'm full of tea and cake after a lovely afternoon of village platinum jubilee celebrations and, the icing on my Solarchat cake: I find my image is SPOD!
Wasn't expecting that all! Thrilled to bits!
Thank you for your kind comments.
I generally try to go for gentle processing on images but thought I'd throw caution to the wind this time and go bold with this solargraph!
I've used the emboss feature in the processing and tweaked the curve into an S shape which gave the 3D appearance... in fact so great is the 3D effect, it unexpectedly brought out my autograph! You can see my thumb print half way down the right hand side of the curve!!
Nic
Very well deserved, Nic. Congratulations on SPoD.
Good tips concerning processing. I'm now quite excited to see what sort of result I'll get at the end of the year, but I don't want to wish the 'summer' away just yet. :lol:

Stu.


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Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by ffellah »

Nic: congratulations on the beautiful SPOD.

Franco


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by christian viladrich »

Great Nic ! It looks like a painting.


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by MapleRidge »

Fabulous solargraph Nic...well done :bow

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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by ffellah »

Alexandra: here is my "expert" Solarcan installation. It only sees the sky in the East, so I am curious to see what will come out.

Installed on June 5th.

Franco
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Montana »

My three cans were set up today :hamster: a big thanks to the hubby for doing it for me :oops:

South west
ImageSolarcan number 1 SW by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

South
ImageSolarcan number 2 S by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

South east
ImageSolarcan number 3 SE by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

All corners covered :)
Alexandra


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi all...

It looks good to have all the solar cans setup...we should have a lot of results in 6 months time ;)

I ordered a can but not sure how quickly international shipping will get it here, but I'll install it as soon as it arrives. I was temped to make one, but the photo paper I have is ancient and not worth the gamble.

Brian


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

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Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
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Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

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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
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by LeoD »

Hi
Very nice solargraph made by Nic! Congrats!

It would be interesting to make it also, but I didn't find the way to order the Solarcan to my country now... :(
well, further browsing let me find a couple of other solar cans that I bought... :cool: :D
no comments regarding the contents of the cans
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Montana »

That is great news Leo, I'm really looking forward to the results :hamster:

Alexandra


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by marktownley »

I hope you dealt with the contents accordingly Leo ;)

Looking forward to seeing the results!


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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi...

My SolarCan arrived earlier this week so I should have it setup to start recording by the solstice.

Brian


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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
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by Carbon60 »

I’ve just peeled off the plastic film to reveal the pin hole……my Solarcan is live :D

Stu.


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Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi all...

I managed to get some time to mount my solar can after supper tonight...bring on the sun ;)

It is high on the utility pole south of the observatory to ensure it is above the corn crop planted in the field next to the observatory.
MRO_SolarCan.jpg
MRO_SolarCan.jpg (871.81 KiB) Viewed 2050 times
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
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Re: June Solar Challenge

Post by atlguy »

Here is my SolarCan in Atlanta GA.
SolarCan.jpg
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