Embarrassing Solar Question

[dslrastro]

Hi all, I have acquired a PST Doublet and used it for the very first time today. After having a few days of cloud and fog too thick to even try the PST I have been reading through the manual.

It does seem that the manual and the actual PST are not one and the same. The manual states that the PST is a SolarMax II Series H-a with RichView Tuning and quite a few other items and methods of using the PST which either do not exist on the PST I have or do not work as the manual says.

I was wondering if anyone would know of a website or youtube video which explains a little more about PST's so I can actually find the PST I own?

I know that this may seem a little strange not knowing the model of the PST but I received it as an educational gift for outreach work. I have only ever used night astronomy scopes, but for some reason the PST seems to be a whole different ball game.

I do believe that what I actually have is a PST Double Stacked scope, but it does say within the manual that there is a draw scope which extends, well not on the PST that I own there is not.

Or is there?

What am I missing here?

Many thanks in advance to any replies to this post.

Steve

[Zakalwe]

A double stacked PST looks like this:

A Solarmax II looks like this:

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

There are loads of manuals here:

http://www.meade.com/support/manuals/

Click on Coronado manuals and the PST is the first option

[dslrastro]

A double stacked PST looks like this:

A Solarmax II looks like this:

Many  thanks, it is the Double Stacked PST then. many thanks

[dslrastro]

There are loads of manuals here:

http://www.meade.com/support/manuals/

Click on Coronado manuals and the PST is the first option

Thanks very much Michael, now I might be able to see what is what. Thanks

Steve

[dslrastro]

Many thanks again. After reading the manual, it sees that I was in fact using the PST correctly, but I also read on the Meade Chat forum http://www.meade4m.com/index.php?/topic/2057-what-shoud-i-see/ That the PST is not quite what it is all it is supposed to be. I have read many reviews today and all pretty much say the same sort of thing. You can view a red disc. That seems about it. I noticed on the manual that I downloaded for the PST that  there was an image by a friend of mine, Gary Palmer, I think I should maybe get in touch with him and ask some advice there, as I certainly saw nothing like the image displayed.

Thanks again

[dslrastro]

It seems that the PST has issue's. Back off to be fixed. Used it for around 3 hours

[Gazabone]

Hi, where did you manage to find the double stack please? I have a PST and would like to try double stacking it.

Cheers

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Many thanks again. After reading the manual, it sees that I was in fact using the PST correctly, but I also read on the Meade Chat forum http://www.meade4m.com/index.php?/topic/2057-what-shoud-i-see/ That the PST is not quite what it is all it is supposed to be. I have read many reviews today and all pretty much say the same sort of thing. You can view a red disc. That seems about it. I noticed on the manual that I downloaded for the PST that  there was an image by a friend of mine, Gary Palmer, I think I should maybe get in touch with him and ask some advice there, as I certainly saw nothing like the image displayed.

Thanks again

Not sure if this is entirely right. With my LS35THa, I can see plenty of disk detail, and I have heard in this thread, that the PST has a slight edge over the LS35 in surface detail. Note that observing in H-alpha is a skill that requires a bit of patience. The first impression is of a disk, but after proper tuning and focusing, the details suddenly emerge.

[Peter Drew]

If you have no previous experience with using Ha solar equipment then I would recommend unscrewing the double stack unit in the first instance and use the PST as a standard version. This would more easily give you the chance to tune the view for best results. Using the double stack can be a little fiddly to get right until you have had some practice. A further thought, it is possible to get a reflection of the true image into the field of view which can appear as a red disc with no features, the true image will be brighter with plenty of detail when tuned via the tuning ring. 

[Joves]

Seems a little hasty a send-back to me...

[dslrastro]

Not sure if this is entirely right. With my LS35THa, I can see plenty of disk detail, and I have heard in this thread, that the PST has a slight edge over the LS35 in surface detail. Note that observing in H-alpha is a skill that requires a bit of patience. The first impression is of a disk, but after proper tuning and focusing, the details suddenly emerge.

Just as you said Michael, the following day, tried again and was AMAZED!!!

Not used the doublet much as until I get to mind my way around the PST, I have not used it  uch as it seems to blur the  image a little, but i think that this is probably somethign I am not doing correctly.

[Zakalwe]

Just as you said Michael, the following day, tried again and was AMAZED!!!

Not used the doublet much as until I get to mind my way around the PST, I have not used it  uch as it seems to blur the  image a little, but i think that this is probably somethign I am not doing correctly.

It takes a little while to train your eye and visual system to see the details. Plus, bad seeing can blur things into a smear. And it can take a little while to tune the Etalon on-band. If it's not on-band you just won't see the details.

By "doublet" do you mean the front Etalon? If so, you have to tune the main Etalon first and them mount the front Etalon. This is then tuned. Plus you will have to "clock" the front Etalon by rotating on it's thread. It certainly takes a lot more skill to get it all tuned in. When it is, then you will get a much dimer image, but more contrast and detail. Again, it can take some eyepiece-time to get your brain used to picking out the detail.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just as you said Michael, the following day, tried again and was AMAZED!!!

Not used the doublet much as until I get to mind my way around the PST, I have not used it  uch as it seems to blur the  image a little, but i think that this is probably somethign I am not doing correctly.

Glad you got it sorted!