Are there any commercial amateur-level scintillation seeing monitors available anymore (like the old Airy Lab model)? My web search found only a couple of professional level options.
Something that could collect good data pointed at Venus, or even brighter stars, would be really great. Though that may be leaving amateur territory.
Thanks!
Kevin
Commercial SSM availability??
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Re: Commercial SSM availability??
Hello Kevin,
There is no scintillation monitor for Venus or stars. The light output is too small.
Still, professionals have developped a scintillation monitor based on the Moon. It is rather high tech since you need very sensitive and fast photodiodes. This is not commercially available.
For night sky observation, entry seeing monitor are based on the jitter of Polaris star position. The price is in the range of several k USD.
There is no scintillation monitor for Venus or stars. The light output is too small.
Still, professionals have developped a scintillation monitor based on the Moon. It is rather high tech since you need very sensitive and fast photodiodes. This is not commercially available.
For night sky observation, entry seeing monitor are based on the jitter of Polaris star position. The price is in the range of several k USD.
Christian Viladrich
Co-author of "Planetary Astronomy"
http://planetary-astronomy.com/
Editor of "Solar Astronomy"
http://www.astronomiesolaire.com/
Co-author of "Planetary Astronomy"
http://planetary-astronomy.com/
Editor of "Solar Astronomy"
http://www.astronomiesolaire.com/
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Re: Commercial SSM availability??
That's interesting - I figured as much with respect to planets and stars. I would still be interested in a solar version like the discontinued Airy Labs.christian viladrich wrote: ↑Thu May 18, 2023 12:13 pm Hello Kevin,
There is no scintillation monitor for Venus or stars. The light output is too small.
Still, professionals have developped a scintillation monitor based on the Moon. It is rather high tech since you need very sensitive and fast photodiodes. This is not commercially available.
For night sky observation, entry seeing monitor are based on the jitter of Polaris star position. The price is in the range of several k USD.
Kevin
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Re: Commercial SSM availability??
I’m a bit surprised that no one is currently making a solar. SSM for sale. Certainly it’s a small market, but there does seem to be enough demand that someone could make a reasonable profit building and selling these.
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Re: Commercial SSM availability??
It is a bit of a niche market. You can try DIY, of find somebody willing to make one for you.
Christian Viladrich
Co-author of "Planetary Astronomy"
http://planetary-astronomy.com/
Editor of "Solar Astronomy"
http://www.astronomiesolaire.com/
Co-author of "Planetary Astronomy"
http://planetary-astronomy.com/
Editor of "Solar Astronomy"
http://www.astronomiesolaire.com/
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