September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

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DeepSolar64
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September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Today's imaging session was from 14:30 until 15:00 UTC. Mostly clear skies but the seeing sucked! The temperature was 71F ( 21.6C ). I imaged Ha chromosphere using the Coronado SolarMax II 90 in single stack and the Celestron 102 was used for 540nm imaging of the photosphere. The camera used is the ZWO ASI178MM monochrome camera. SharpCap is used for image acquisition on my Windows 8.1 laptop. Stacking was done in AVIStack and processing/editing using imPPG and Paint.net ( sharpening ) and curves, contrast, color etc using GIMP. The seeing was so bad random single shots were fuzzy. Stacking and selecting the sharpest images using AVIStack saved the day! Even with this the images still lack the sharpness they should have.

Here are today's results.

James



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Last edited by DeepSolar64 on Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Bill_C »

You are turning into an imager James


Lunt pressure tuned 60mm
Orion ST 80mm
Bausch and Lomb 90mm
Quark Chromosphere / 130mm ERF
Antlia 35mm prism with 1.25" cak filter
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various Barlows and Filters
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Apollo M IMX 174m
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Bill_C wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:53 pm You are turning into an imager James
Maybe, but not yet a very good one. I am certainly better doing visual.


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
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Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Martin_S »

James, don't underestimate yourself, your white light is amazing.


H alpha : ,Skywatcher 120mm F8 open frame refractor, a tilted 2" 7nm H-alpha filter as a sub energy rejection filter, Baader TZ4 telecentric focal extender, Player One energy rejection filter, Combo Quark Chromosphere, Naked PST etalon for double stacking, ASI74mm camera
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thank you Martin. I seem to do best on white light and on prominences.

James


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
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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
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Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by MapleRidge »

These are great captures James...well done :bow

Brian


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thanks Brian!! :-)


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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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: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Hopefully I'll get a chance for Sun again tomorrow.

Goodnight.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
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
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Carbon60 »

Looking good, James. Nice images.

Stu.


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by marktownley »

These came out well for bad seeing James, my seeing was awful yesterday, today it is just cloudy.


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by rigel123 »

Nice session James!


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by torsinadoc »

Nice set of images!


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thanks everyone. But how does everyone get their plages to stand out? Mine can be seen but I can't get them to " pop " for the life of me!


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
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Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
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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: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by arnedanielsen »

Good collection James!

Best regards,
Arne


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by ffellah »

Another nice session, James, well done !

Franco


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thanks Arne and Franco. :)


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: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Montana »

These are really great James :bow :hamster: certainly you are doing very well in WL and Halpha proms :hamster: I am sure you would do equally well with CaK. I can see your frustration though about the surface not popping, however, once you master getting the surface on band, the image will automatically 'pop' you won't need to do anything at all, it will just happen. We need to help you get the etalon on band some how, how can we help you with that problem? I feel the need for a Zoom chat and live visual whilst at the scope to see what is going on. I can see that this is starting to pain you.

Alexandra


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Bill_C »

May be a good subject for our monthly chat


Lunt pressure tuned 60mm
Orion ST 80mm
Bausch and Lomb 90mm
Quark Chromosphere / 130mm ERF
Antlia 35mm prism with 1.25" cak filter
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various Barlows and Filters
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Montana wrote: Tue Sep 20, 2022 11:56 am These are really great James :bow :hamster: certainly you are doing very well in WL and Halpha proms :hamster: I am sure you would do equally well with CaK. I can see your frustration though about the surface not popping, however, once you master getting the surface on band, the image will automatically 'pop' you won't need to do anything at all, it will just happen. We need to help you get the etalon on band some how, how can we help you with that problem? I feel the need for a Zoom chat and live visual whilst at the scope to see what is going on. I can see that this is starting to pain you.

Alexandra
Oh yes. Just read today's post. I seem to do much better with visual and struggle often with uneven tuning and an unevenly illuminated field while imaging. Proms aren't usually an issue in Ha but the disc often is.

A Zoom chat would be good and/or it being discussed in detail during a monthly meeting would be great too! Are they any kind of tutorial in the database here concerning tuning a scope?

I feel kinda foolish having observed in Ha for 3+ years and cannot tune my scope properly! :oops:

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
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by MAURITS »

Beautiful detailed images James, I like the nice coloring.


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thank you Maurits! 😊


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
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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Montana »

James, just let me know when you are free and we can have a Zoom chat to start with and perhaps you can share your screen during the Zoom when you are solar observing. I think you have more sunshine than me so would have more chance demonstrating than I would have to demonstrate back. I know that you seem to observe around 15-17:00 UTC which is about 4-6pm here in the UK. This would be better at a weekend or I will be on holiday for a couple of weeks in October so would have more time then. Let me know what is best for you and we will try and arrange a time. If I could see on screen how you are tuning it would help a great deal. I wish we could meet in person but Zoom should work just as well. I think Nic felt it helpful to sit and observe and capture with me, it helps to have someone there to discuss things with. Anyway, it is up to you :)

Alexandra


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Thanks Alexandra for the offer. I'll have to see what I have going on in the near future. I tend to have more " alone " time on the weekdays and weekends tend to be busier but I know you work during the week. I'll let you know.

And you will see how I image without tracking of any sorts. You have it lucky!!

James

P.S. And talking about it during the monthly meeting would be good too. :-)


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: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Sumpy »

Nice set of images, James! One thing I've noticed during processing is that careful tweaking with curves can help add some contrast and make the plages stand out a bit better against the background. Probably not the issue you're having, but wanted to mention it.
DeepSolar64 wrote: Wed Sep 21, 2022 6:14 pm And you will see how I image without tracking of any sorts.
:o

Now thats dedication! Double kudos on your images with no tracking!


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Brian,
I do have a SW AZGTI but it never seems to track very well. My others don't track at all. I have to keep my video shots to 300 frames or less or so so they will line up while stacking or use single-shot captures. My stuff does fine for visual but is certainly NOT optimized for imaging. It's a challenge sometimes.

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: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by Sumpy »

I wonder why your AZ-GTI isn't tracking well? I know my SolarQuest is different as it is auto-guiding, but I would have assumed that the AZ-GTI would track pretty well since it is basically the same mechanical design. Are you using the SkyWatcher app or the hand controller?


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Re: September 18 2022 Imaging. ZWO ASI178MM

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Sumpy wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 7:05 pm I wonder why your AZ-GTI isn't tracking well? I know my SolarQuest is different as it is auto-guiding, but I would have assumed that the AZ-GTI would track pretty well since it is basically the same mechanical design. Are you using the SkyWatcher app or the hand controller?
I actually sent it back to Sky-Watcher to have it checked out by their technicians. They said nothing was wrong with it. The tech I talked to said the SolarQuest was a better mount for solar tracking because it had an additional encoder to aid in tracking the sun. I bought the AZGTI because of it's GOTO capability with nighttime objects and it's ability to track nighttime as well and it seems to do better at night and the GOTO usually can put an object within a low power field of view. It just does not track the Sun well. Mark mentioned positioning his a certain way and I wish I knew exactly what he does. Accurate tracking would certainly help me in imaging.

I use the iPhone app. I would rather have the hand controller.

And the AZGTI is way too small for the heavy SolarMax II 90 or Celestron 102.

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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