11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

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DeepSolar64
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11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Today around 19:00 UTC I viewed through thinner areas of clouds in an almost overcast sky using the little Lunt 8x32s. I could only see two spots on the Sun. One in the NW quadrant that is associated with AR13149 and the other in the SW quadrant being associated with AR13147. I see no other details on the solar disc. The temperature is 55F ( 12.7C )

James

GONG_WLAI_small.JPG
GONG_WLAI_small.JPG (12.03 KiB) Viewed 277 times


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: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Aaron,
Small apertures have advantages during poor seeing like that.

With your AT50 scope having an F5 focal ratio how bad is the chromatic aberration? The small size of the scope will no doubt help some. My AT72EDII is a two ED glass doublet at F6 with an FPL-53 element mated to a Lanthanum element. I have never seen any CA in that scope even though it's a modestly priced Chinese refactor. As far as I am concerned it's a true apochromat.

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: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Aaron,
The AT50 probably only has a single thin layer of magnesium flouride coating on the inside and outside of the doublet. My old Focal 50mm F12 cemented doublet had such a coating. It was almost colorless but with a close look a little of a blue tint could be seen. My 60mm Traq F12 has the same type of coating but it's an air spaced doublet.

My Orion70 is a F7.1 achromat and I can see some CA on the solar edge and a little greying of the sunspots while using it. It's not much though and is less than I expected it to be. I actually prefer F8 or more on a small achromat and longer on one 100mm or larger. Of course using filters negate this. The Orion70 has no CA when I am using a filter like the Baader 540nm. And concerning the little Orion70 I got the new focuser in for it today. It wasn't an exact fit but it was very close. The holes in the tube were in a different place than on the focuser so I drilled them a bit bigger so I could get the screws in and the focuser does sit a little sideways on the scope but that's only cosmetic. I think it will work fine. I just have to get in the habit of checking the screws and making sure I have the scope secured to the mount. Anyway it's been a good day but we have young grandkids here, two young boys and they dive me a bit nuts! Girls are sooo much easier.

Goodnight

James

P.S. I have always been a bit allergic to achromats shorter than F8. I had an F5ish Orion ST90 a while back. It's CA was atrocious and it had bad coma and astigmatism. 50x was it's max magnification and it worked best between 20 to 25x. It just would not focus sharp. I gave the scope away about a year ago.

But the AT50 is really small and Astro-Tech scopes are well made with good glass. Yours may well be an exception to my " achromatic allergy ". :-) And yes I love old long focal ratio achromats. F12 and longer. I would love a classic F15 Unitron!! Any size!
Last edited by DeepSolar64 on Fri Jan 13, 2023 10:40 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
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by marktownley »

Nice report James, no sun for me this Saturday, sky was clearish before dawn but it has clouded over now with rain coming in again. Been a day of jobs around the home. Pub and beer this afternoon followed by a curry for tea.


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Re: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Mark,
I did get a session in which I just completed. The Orion70 is restored and back in use. I have a busy day too going over to a belated Thanksgiving dinner at my stepson's place. I won't get time to post today's report until late but all data is recorded and saved.

Enjoy going to the pub.

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: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by Montana »

Thanks for the report James :hamster: just rain and clouds all weekend for me too :(

Alexandra


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Re: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Sorry Alexandra. The clouds must be attracted to you. They must find you pleasant to be around. :-)


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: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by Montana »

:lol: :lol: :lol:


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Re: 11-25-2022 Observations. Through the Clouds.

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Montana wrote: Mon Nov 28, 2022 5:55 pm :lol: :lol: :lol:
:D


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

Image Visual Observer
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