Merlin66

Torsten has just released a significant upgrade to FireCapture - V2.7 https://groups.io/g/firecapture/message/179

Just a note: The etalon in the PST is tuned by the adjusting ring applying pressure to the edge of the etalon disks. The "no pressure" setting/ tuning is just above the H alpha central wavelength, just into the Red wing. Adjusting the tuning ring applies pressure to the etalon and moves the CWL to the H alpha wavelength and then on towards the Blue wing. Re-adjusting the pin position as per Maurice's notes just ensures the any initial pressure on the etalon is relieved and the etalon should then be sitting just above H alpha - this obviously will have no effect if there was no "initial pressure" being applied to the etalon.

Maurice's webpages are no longer supported or available to assess. However Wayback Machine at Archive.org has archived many old webpages including Maurice's. https://web.archive.org/web/20081003113052/http://home.freeuk.com/m.gavin/pstfixx.htm

Much as I love my Baader gear, I have to admit the diagonal with the cliplock doesn’t like my ED80. The required backfocus is just too much for my setup.

The use a 9V block battery....I use mine everyday it's clear for solar imaging, the battery must be a couple of years old and still work OK.

Yes, so far.... I only do spectroscopy and solar imaging. No issues with a Baader Cool wedge, Powermate and ASI 1600MM camera.

If you unscrew the eyepiece end of tube, you'll see the ITF filter is visible at the bottom of the other tube. You should also see the retaining ring which holds the ITF filter. I find it easier to work from this side.

I also use the SW focus motor on all my scopes. I decided to use a geared belt drive to the 10:1 focus knob for finer control of focusing.

I'd go for the 7mm, it would give x 180 which is still pretty high for average seeing conditions in the UK. Forget the barlow. Maybe in a few years you can reconsider.

I use TV PM’s for most of my solar imaging and yes I experience NR, but equally I find the same problem of NR with various Barlow’s. IMHO I think it’s the higher f ratio that aggravates the generation of NR. The basic cause is the design of the camera being use. The interference between the built-in cover plate and the underlying silicon based chip.

Your images seem to show the Standard Deviation reducing from 485.9 to 334.7.......

Fabio has been working on further upgrades to AstroArt, releasing his SP4. Version 7.0 SP4 - June 8, 2020 ----------------------------- * New feature. Full-frame autoguide on multiple stars. * New feature. Syncronization between two sessions for sequences. * New feature. Focusing with a spectrum reference line. * New feature. Focusing with the Bahtinov mask. * New feature. "Connect all" command for instrumentation. * Improved. Some incompatible DATE-OBS FITS keywords are supported. * Improved. More options for autoguide. * Improved. More script functions. * Bug fix. Apply Macro on 8 bit files changed the extension in some cases. * Bug fix. Percentage of rejected pixels by sigma not shown in the Log. The full frame multi star guider options may be of interest to many. https://www.astroart-forum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&p=2052&sid=c42159ef85cd4cd13dee73e7ce4b8e91#p2052 Of interest to those doing spectroscopy: From the menu, it's also possible to focus on a spectrum reference line, where the width of the line is used to estimate focus.

I'm not sure this is correct. All pre CC versions of Photoshop are no longer available. There are no legitimate free versions.

Orion is a very big astronomical supplier in the US, sells SW mounts etc. re-badged to "Orion" The human eye is still sensitive up to 700nm. Visual H alpha observations of the Sun ( using extreme narrowband etalon filters) are regularly conducted by many amateurs. CCD/ CMOS cameras are based on silicon technology which is sensitive up to 1100nm.

I use my Genesis 4" f5 with a Baader Cool Herschel wedge for solar white light imaging. It's an urban myth that Petzval scopes can't safely be used for solar work. I have it in writing from Takahashi, Williams Optics and TeleVue that all their Petzval designed scopes are safe to use with no ERF for white light observing with the wedge.

The eyepiece holder is actually in two sections. The top section (with the blocking filter) may be easier to remove. on the newer PST you can access the ITF at the bottom of the eyepiece tube when the top is removed.

William, I don't have a colour camera, but used the FC "dummy" to check... Settings/ Debayer/ .....preview in colour. Try it, see how you go.

The "loop" shown at the right goes over the eyepiece holder and made tight by pulling the rubber strap through the handle - towards the left. The serrated teeth when turning, bite into the rubber strap to provide the force to, hopefully, release the eyepiece holder - without damage.

I use the Baader x2.5 Hyperion Barlow, it has a 1.25” nosepiece and a T thread connection. Works well.

I think it’s because the variables “r, b,c” are not defined in the build diagrams.

There was an article in S&T described all the parameters of the various Trott variations.

Jonathan, The ITF filter in the PST is completely different from the Lunt. Looking at the PST ITF it has a bright mirror finish (if OK), if deteriorated it looks like rusty rings. It cannot be cleaned, must be replaced. Maier Photonics supply a drop in replacement.

Probably an RAS thearded 1/2" Ramsden.

I would certainly remove the eyepiece holder and check the ITF filter. I’d say that’s the most likely cause of your issues.

After five years of trying to get them banned, it gets a little annoying that they still pop up like weeds........