tich

I did a live broadcast on Facebook earlier using the iMac & Point Grey Grasshopper camera so I'm still learning on how everything works as I'm a bit green behind the gills when it comes to using anything Apple related. Anyhow I did some captures even though the seeing was pretty poor due to the hazy sky but managed to get something at least, all images were taken using CaK & Ha PST's the close ups I used a 3X Barlow

It's been a long time since I've done any solar but these images were taken using Coronado PST's in HA & CaK, I did pop a 3X Barlow on the close up of the prom although I didn't notice until afterwards I'd captured another one below (doh!!)

Hi everyone given the current situation we've decided to cancel to, we're so gutted as we were looking forward to catching up with you all.

I'd need a bigger scooter to tow mine 😂

Hi everyone, just left them a message to reserve pitch 29 so fingers crossed we'll be there this year as it's been to long.

Totally gutted we would have loved to have caught up with you all, now we'll just have to put our hats away & somehow munch through a huge chocolate fudge cake my ourselves!! One thing you can't rely on is the weather such a shame for everyone, fingers crossed for the next one!!

Both have our special hats at the ready now, hoping for some clear skies.

That'll teach ya 😉

He doesn't need persuading he just needs one!!! It's the law!!! "Aaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" said Thud the viking!!

Sorry for putting the frighteners on you Tony I hope you will be able to pop along it would be great to catch up, thinking of you both.

someone mention cake!!!

I'm bringing lots of kit not sure what as yet, Nicky nacky Noo & of course my SGL Hat!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Just wondering if there's a pitch plan as I can't find one anywhere? If we can get on Kingfisher again then that would be great but happy to pitch up anywhere really, I will be quite late getting there so I'd imagine I would have to ring up Lucksall to give them my car registration details.

We will be on pitch yellow 154 this time & getting there quite late so should er be fun setting up!! Be great to catch up with you all....

Afternoon all I'm thinking of attending this year although it will only be on the Friday & Saturday night, we will be coming down straight from work so I'd imagine I won't be there until 7:30-ish so I'll be setting up quite late. If its clear & I don't want to be stoned to death is there a hard standing pitch where I can set up out of the way? We will be using red torches when unfolding the caravan but it any hands on help to get the thing set up quick would be appreciated so not to disturb any of you lovely folk.

I'd just like to say thanks to @Tim for letting us hold a couple of outreach events at the garden centre, unfortunately the clouds were conspiring against us on Sunday but we did get some interest, plus it were nice to catch up with people like @John as I just heard his voice & I thought I know you!, so it were lovely seeing you again after all this time. It's ok the shark didn't bite Andy's arm off. Scuse the er finger!!

We were going to build a roll on roll off shed observatory but as this came up for 150 quid on eBay it were a no brainer!! A dome can be limiting but then it does offer good wind protection to so horses for courses.

I managed another session on the Sun yesterday although seeing conditions were poor plus I were fighting clouds, I did manage to use the 3X Barlow on all the scopes but the HA PST is definitely suffering with Newtons rings with or without a Barlow being used. Not a brilliant set of images so this is probably about the best I could manage from a bad bunch.

The Sun in white light, Hydrogen Alpha & Calcium K using an ED100 & PST's I only had a short time to process these earlier as I had to rush to work, my old faithful cheap & cheerful £15 ebay 3X Barlow lens which I've had for years still worked quite well on the Sun in white light today even though conditions weren't great for seeing, however the Astro engineering & Revelation Astro 4 & 5X Barlows were completely useless as both were casting reflections in the imaging train so Solar work is definitely out the of question for these & they both cost nearly 4 X as much. I think I saw a hint of Newtons rings when I were imaging in Ha using the DMK41 so I'll need to look into that. 25% of 2000 frames stacked in autostakkert 3, wavelets tweaked in Registax & finished off in Photoshop

Some more solar shenanigans before I go to work seeing wasn't great either but nice to be out again so I quickly set up in the Dumpy Dalek, I tried the ASI camera in the Ca-K scope but got Newtons rings, switched back to the DMK41 & tried a Barlow lens still Newtons rings & the same in the Ha scope. you don't get any of this in white light. This solar imaging malarky is a right royal pain, I don't think tilt adapters will work using PST's so kinda stuck for ideas. The close up of the Sunspot was done using the ASI camera, ED80 & a 2X Barlow on the nosepiece into another 3X Barlow lens. A bit unorthodox method but its all I had to hand & I couldn't be bothered to run upstairs to get more Barlow lenses. All images with varying frames from 250 to 500 stacked in Autostakkert 3 depending on their quality, Ca-K PST, Ha PST, ED80 & Lunt wedge for white light.

No Dave I use a Ca-K PST using a DMK41 so I can get the full disc in frame 🙂

It started off well in white light but as the day went on Calcium K & Ha images went a bit squiffy so this is the best of a bad bunch. White light images taken using an ED100, Lunt Herchel Wedge, ASI 120 MM camera with 2X then 3X Barlow lens to try & get up close. Calcium K & Ha images taken using a DMK41 camera, CAK PST, HA PST Double Stacked.

That's brilliant Gav you do realise I may have to share this a lot..

I always use a polarizing filter when observing & I've got a couple knocking about so I can screw them onto the eyepieces so it sounds like it should be good to go then. I've got a continuum filter that is screwed together with an IR cut filter which I cannot separate but I know he used to image using those on a DSLR, what they'd be like for visual I've no idea but I guess I could try them on the other wedge I have when another spot comes into view. I've heard a lot of people use the continuum filter when imaging as they help bring out a bit more so I'm looking forward to trying it out.

My other 2" Lunt wedge only has an ND3.0 filter installed so I thought this one should be ok to use with one screwed onto the eyepiece holder, I do have another Baader 2" ND filter but it has OD 1.8 printed on it but I don't fancy using that one.