paulastro

Nice one charl. I observed in WL and in HA. Even in a PST it showed quite a bit of detail.

That's good to hear Steve. Quarks are not cheap, and knowing it is going to be checked beforehand could be a deciding factor for some people before they take the plunge. Now the cat's out of the bag, you will probably get potential customers asking if Gary Is still checking them before ordering. I would certainly ask.

Just a reminder, if you still haven't got a solar filter! There's an article in the June AN (and S@N mag) with more information. The table below, culled from AN, shows information from various places in the UK. Its actually better the further north you are located! 😀 However, I'm afraid the weather has an inverse relationship with the eclipse circumstances 😒.

Out from 9.00 pm to about 10.30 pm, Tecnosky 102ED F7. I used the binoviewer with Orthos for visual observations. The terminator was fabulous, particularly the M Imbrium/Apennines area and the terminator from Purbach to the S limb. I then took a single frame full disc pic, as usual, with the Olympus E -M5 Mk11 at 1/160 sec at 200 asa. I also did some crops from it off two selected areas later.. Of course, the crops are quite low res due to small size of the original image, it always amazes me how good they are considering I use the m4/3 format! I them took some pics using my Samsung A40 smartphone (not a high spec phone camera) through a Morpheus 17.5 mm eyepiece with the aid of the Celestron smartphone adapter. When I compared the crops with the smartphone pics of the same areas today, the latter showed better resolution and a more smoother look to them. Not surprising really, but I wanted to to do a direct comparison anyway. The full disc pic below is using the Olympus at prime focus, and the close ups are pucs with the A40 and the Morpheus eyepuece. I haven't added the crops, but you can simulate it by enlarging the full disc pic of course. I should be able to improve on the quality of the smartphone pics with some practice. The smartphone pics here we're on auto focus, and it chose the asa and speed itself!

Out from 9.10 to 10.30 pm, using the Tecnosky 102ED F7. Nice details along the terminator through the S Highlands, including the Hipparchus and Albateginus area. Rima Hyginus and Ariadeus were very favourably placed and were fabulous using the binoviewer and Orthos in moments of better seeing. The area around the Caucasus Mtns also showed impressive detail Single frame and crop below taken with the Olyympue E-M5 Mk11. Much better visually of course 🙂.

I had a good session from 9.20 to 10.25 pm. A very nice terminator including a spectacular sunrise over Aristoteles and Eudoxus. Single frame below with the Tecnosky 102ED F7 and Olympus camera taken at 10.20 pm. Moon 6.1 days old and 30.8% illumination.

Hi Stu, many thanks. I use a Baader Solar Film Filter I bought from FLO recently. Before this for some years I used a sheet of the same film held in place over the dew cap with three elastic bands, but decided the scope deserved an upgrade 😄. A bit like a jam pit cover! I figured three elastic bands were unlikely to fail all at the same time - in retrospect It wasn't a great idea and certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. I was lucky it never failed me. 😏

Well done Heather, I'm pleased you saw them. The first of many I'm sure 🙂.

A single frame snap of AR2824 with the Tecnosky 102ED and Olympus at around 2.30 this afternoon.

Grabbed this single frame at around 2.30 this afternoon. Taken at prime focus with Tecnosky 102ED F7 with the Olympus E-M5 Mk11. The crop is of AR2824, and AR2822 can be seen going toward the W limb on the whole disc pic. I've also added a link to a post I made earlier about the new spot. https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/377439-ar2824-rotating-into-view-neptune-size-dark-core-flaring-activity/?tab=comments#comment-4088936

I had a few more views between 12.00 and 12.15pm. In the PST I could see a nice irregular plage area around it and a filament.

Worth keeping an eye on this one as it progresses onto the disc.. First spotted the sunspot at 7.55am through the PST, very obvious. Then looked on spaceweather.com and found the information below.

Excellent pics, I had some breaks amongst angry clouds and heavy rain from 11.15 to 12.00. Observing with a PST, some nice detail amongst the scudding cloud, including your prom. About 9 proms, 3 active areas and 4 filaments in rather indifferent seeing 🙂.

Thanks Nigella 👍. The person who's job it is to allocate the numbers obviously had a day off 😄.

It's surprising the more S AR hasn't got a number yet (at least on soaceweather .com), it had three umbral regions when I made my observation before lunch time.

I had a brief session this morning, views through cloud. I'm surprised there isn't a designation for the AR to the South of AR2822 yet? Used my SW 72ED and grabbed a single frame with the Olympus at 11.25am.

In actual fact Chris, Peter doesn't like to admit it, but its the SC that's the finder for the refractor. Except for the rare conditions when the SC can be used to its full capacity, the refractor will show better lunar and planetary views anyway 😄.

Observed in between cloud from 7.30 to 7.50am before it closed in completely, using PST. AA2822 is showing a lot of detail, including some small filaments and other detail. It's, worth keeping an eye on, particularly as it produced a strong flare on May 7th. To show its location I've attached a quick sketch I made. Note this shows an inverted view.

Have you tried using the scope since your mishap? If the mirror has been affected you should be able to tell.

Mike, it is my birthday on May 15th 😁.

Thanks Heather. I realise you probably know this, but do make sure the filter you make is secure. I hope you have clear skies on the day.

I hope your event goes well Mark 🙂.

I am prepared to travel on the day, or stay with accommodating friends in various locations, if the wheather prospects are noticeably better else where. I'm also hoping that there may be some nice sunspots. If there is no activity then you can't readily tell eclipse photos taken at different eclipses.

To sell it for a huge profit of course 🙂.

Ah, there is the DZ Mk11 due out any time now though! I'm sure I can get Mike to buy that too - and give me a huge discount when I buy the Mk1 from him 😁.