Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

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rigel123
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Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by rigel123 »

This was a frustrating morning. It started clear and I didn't set up as I was waiting for a rep to replace a backup sump pump battery (I just don't like going through the hassle of getting one, lugging the thing downstairs, replacing it and then taking the old one to a recycle center since they weigh about 50 lbs!). He got there and said, "You might as well order one on line and then you'll be sure to get the right one cause it will cost you $380 just for me to be here, $80 an hour for me to go looking for one and install it, plus the cost of the battery." Yep, I ordered one on line, I'll install it Wednesday and lug the darn old one to a recycle center!! BTW, I told them I wanted a replacement battery for the system THEY installed and would have thought they might have everything ready to go!! Oh well, I digress!



After that fiasco I set up since there were some big gaps in the clouds, slewed to the sun and then wondered where all of the filaments were. I knew there were some there from the GONG site, so for fun, I took off the DS unit and lo and behold there were filaments and a lot more detail than I was seeing with the DS unit on it. So I popped in an eyepiece to check the tuning on the main etalon and everything was good. Reattached the DS unit and noticed a big drop in contrast. So playing with the tuning wheel I cranked it over and finally the filaments and other details came into view but this meant putting the ghost images well away from the main image and I was getting a very uneven illuminated disk. Rats! So I plan to start from scratch on Thursday when it is supposed to be clear and a lot cooler and tune the main etalon from ground zero, then attach the DS unit and see how things look. If I still have to crank the wheel a lot to get contrast I'll be calling Lunt to have them check the DS unit out. It worries me since everything was fine with it last week. I began wondering when I saw some other posts on Solar Chat of full disks on the same days I had shot some disks and they were showing way more filaments than I was capturing. I'm hoping nothing is major wrong with the DS unit! Anyway, here are some shots.

Full Disk when I knew there was something wrong with the DS unit
Something-is-wrong-8-8-2022.jpg
Something-is-wrong-8-8-2022.jpg (223.81 KiB) Viewed 206 times
Full Disk in SS after pulling the DS unit
FD-SS-8-8-2022.jpg
FD-SS-8-8-2022.jpg (199.88 KiB) Viewed 206 times
Full Disk after retuning the DS unit and notice the uneven illumination of the disk
FD-DS-8-8-2022-re-tuned.jpg
FD-DS-8-8-2022-re-tuned.jpg (240.5 KiB) Viewed 206 times


Warren

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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by Petrus »

I hope you will get an answer and fix for your DS unit Warren!


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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by marktownley »

Sounds like you've been having a frustrating time Warren! You got some views in at least.


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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by arnedanielsen »

Hope you are able to work out the issue with the DS Warren!

I have tried double stacking my front filter from the Coronado 60 on the Coronado 60II, but have never been able to get any good results from it. Now I'm so happy with the results from using just the Coronado 60 front filter that I don't dare to touch it :-)

Best regards,
Arne


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rigel123
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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by rigel123 »

Thanks folks! Hopefully I'll know more after I get a chance to work with it on Thursday.


Warren

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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Good luck Warren.

Personally I think your images are ok. But mine certainly aren’t top grade like many here and I lack imaging experience.

James


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Re: Images and concerns from 8/8/2022

Post by rigel123 »

Thanks James!


Warren

Lunt LS60T DS
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