astrorg

Thanks, trying my best - time and money permitting. I guess Solar will be in my retirement setup - being during the day helps.

Hello I have been away from this forum from possibly July - I never find a lot of time to do anything these days, same to be able to relax reading and interacting Astronomy forums. I asked here a few ideas about making a solar scope or modifying whatever I had and I was recommended to also see Solar Chat Forums and I did. Thanks to solarchatforums I have been able to do something decent and here is what I have done so far - very slowly! 1. I purchased a second hand PST and replaced its ITF with Maier one from the US and it finally had a clear image coming through + moved Etalon screw to third position - all the usual thing everybody does [after I researched it]! 2. used a new SCT screw-on short focuser [used once or twice on a LX200 R Classic] and using Teflon tape I screwed the PST Etalon to the focuser and purchased a 2" adaptor to fit on Etalon. 3. then used a Chinese 2" to 1.25 and modified the 2" side socket taking internal ring off and making 3x 120° threaded holes and 3x nylon thumb screws and used that as an adaptor to fit the original PST eyepiece holder - strangely enough at present this adaptor is also used as a tilter ... until I buy a proper camera tilter 4. then fit the above eyepiece holder into the SCT focuser with 2" to 1.252 adaptor in it and screwed the whole Gold PST tube with Etalon in it and made a BETTER PST - see image 5. I also initially tried a 2.2x DSLR camera Lens magnifier in front of PST and it decently works too - so PST will be fine for full solar disk mainly and without the 0.5 angstrom - not forcibly needed, I am probably around 0.7 as it is! 6. more importantly, I decided to make my own 90mm solar scope using the above bits and pieces. 7. with the help of Solar Chat Forums [great guys with a lot of knowledge, some are professional - i.e. they know the optics mathematical details - which helps] I purchased a cheap Bresser AR90/900 8. the ONLY usable thing there ... is the main tube, a nice and thick tube - the rest is ALL plastic!!! I dismounted all parts and saw tube shorter ... a bit too much ! - I could have saved ~6cm really as I went with original ideas, but forgot I was using a different telescope from my initial thoughts - silly me! So, I added a 6cm extension - no problems there to reach the 20cm inward needed for the PST Etalon which has ~20cm FL 9. initially I used a Tuna Fish 100g tin to adapt the SCT focuser onto my AR152 and fit Etalon inside the focuser to get near the 20cm needed- lets call it Quark unit - which it is really! It worked well, so I decided to add a second focuser to tune the Etalon ... getting back to AR90/900 ... 10. I was trying to avoid overspending, I could not afford to spend too much - then I remembered I had a unused AR102SX which in my mind I guessed ... the focuser should over AR90/900 and it did! It just fits perfectly - then drilled three holes for the holding screws et-voila' 11. I purchased a second hand 75mn Baader D-ERF and fit it INSIDE the AR90 tube at about 20cm inside from the front air-spaced doublet lenses, as there are the usual internal rings soldered in and just sit on it and I have about 70mm aperture - i.e 70mm width from the D-ERF for photons to get through. At that ~20cm distance from front lenses the beam is still very large - probably about 60-65mm - there is no heat in between - no need for air-escaping holes 12. when I have the time I will make a solar finder scope and fit it on the tube - not that is really needed - I usually use CDC to get there almost over The Sun [having an almost exact spot on the yard!] - then use my eye without eyepiece and look thourgh the PST eyepiece holder for solar shinging and centre the telescope over The Sun. Well, it works well after tuning Etalon focuser correctly and then focusing/tuning Etalon etc. - the usual. See some images - still learning imaging/processing and a lot more to learn about Solar ... a lot! I will probably need to get a Power-mate 2.5x when I can afford it! 1st mod - without the original black box - it works so much better - better focusing and sharper viewing too. This is the AR90/900 shorten tube with AR102SX focuser and adaptors to test it normally This is complete with the Quark Unit on the right side Since this image there have been some changing - do not use the revelation adaptor any more and added a 6cm 2" extension. Here are some images:

3 pages and no end testingpost? What a pity!

What do you know. I ended up buying a second hand PST [blue filters] - should arrive within a week! I wish to play with it first and get the hang of Solar first - test my cameras etc. or/and eventually get an old Mono CCD for Solar Lunar, also do White Light with Baader filter, etc. I prefer the slow approach - that cost less or in instalments. Then possibly mod or go straight to Quark Chromosphere.

I agree

Reading the Italian report and although it does not really give you a 'conclusion report', it seems that based on Telescopes I have the Quark standard chromosphere [+4.3x Barlow] is actually better for me. With the exception of the old LX200, all my telescopes are F/3.9 (guider 60mm) to F/6.5. So, possibly Quark Chromosphere (New) + Baader 2" 35nm HA filter is one solution - only wondering on the actual internal Barlow if it is that good - I assume it is properly set to be perfectly centred - one hopes! Note: I noticed the heck of a difference image Quark vs Combo in that report, BUT ... he was using one heck of a Tele-extender + a very good Barlow! I do not really know if it is worth risking buying a second hand Quark, but there is one thing to think that I guess most people that sell it and have used it, must have had all problems sorted [in theory]. But can possibly save £. 500 from a second hand one - I could buy it tomorrow [nearly]!

I am Italian born and will read with interest!

I agree and I am no expert about the 35nm filter - I did read it somewhere [not sure]. If you follow whatever they tell you on shop pages, you would spend about 4-500% more than you really need! So, you actually are saying I could buy a Quark Combo [use Barlow] + Baader 2" 35nm HA filter and I am OK? Love this then!

Now that I have a clear view of what to do [I hope!] I am still trying understand my needs based on what I have. With my gear [see signature] which ERF should I really get? Starting with AR152 F/6.5 The real questions are: a. is it better to get the full width (very expensive) 150mm ERF on the AR152 being F/6.5 or a smaller one - lets say 75mm ERF - and I make a 152mm cap with the adaptation for the 75mm [as a reference] 'removable' glass? b. also thinking to play with other telescopes (maybe even the LX200 in the future) - the 75mm would fit all of them and can always reduce the lens diameter with a cap c. I have read of people actually using the 6" refractor without the ERF and only using the 2" IR/UV filter before their Quark [ actually on the diagonal if used] - but the AR152 has 2 lenses and I guess it will get hot I am no expert in Optics, thou! Any clarifications on the above points I am still not complete sure. I mean logically one would buy the full ERF, but they are hugely expensive for a 6" telescope. I am interested in imaging mainly. In the end one wants to spend as less as possible and be able to have a lot to do and be safe too and not risking to destroy equipment. ... and then you find this wow! ;p] PS I hope this thread helps other in a similar situation wishing to use what one has and be safe and enjoy the beautiful view of our nearest star.

Putting money away and resist 'offers' temptation ! It is probably going to be next year unless I can raise about 50% of it and then ask friends and family for help - I would like not miss this summer, even if not much is going on on The Sun. I guess, I probably have to get the Quark Combo 'first' and spend time testing it with all my telescopes ... etc. I was looking at these two BRESSER-Messier-AR-102L-1350-Hexafoc-Optical-Tube-assembly - F/13.2 BRESSER-Messier-AR-102-1000-Hexafoc-Optical-Tube-assembly - F/9.8 They both fit perfectly with DSLR for full Disk Movie [ if focuses well ] and eventually use 178M for details The famous Tal seems unfindable now.

Yes, I do agree [hope!] the new ones are better 'tested' prior despatch too. On Saturday as 'consolation prize' I will take the AR152 + 72ED out for solar at around 13:30H - if Sun is still visible enough - I am in a hole surrounded by houses and I am hoping on Sunday morning the Sun will be out (clear enough) to play with White Solar filter + Continuum filter + also test a UHC I have on OIII filtration and see what happens - but just checked and there might be some sleet or small amount of snow again! I have not done any White Solar views or imaging in years, not that I have done anything worth looking at!!! I remember only 1999 solar eclipse imaged [badly] with a Russian Z11 film camera- sun overhead, then 2004 Venus transit - came running from work and managed to get 'something' through UK North-East clouds - probably same camera. Then in 2015 using a LX200 10" + Continuum and 2016 too ... once. I barely played with it. It is time I get the hang of it back in White standard filter and then keep reading and see if I can get a 'final' decision on this. It is so exhausting when there is not much cash and you cannot really waste it too. Pffff PS My ugly and few images of The Sun are here ...

Ha ha hah a aaaaa AS usual something comes up that makes yo think! I mean those like me that cannot afford much and have to REALLY do a thorough research to avoid wasting hard earned cash - not much of it too! But I do agree that Quark is 'ace' when it works.

Thanks, I was looking through Daystar website and I was just thinking about 'what is this Combo' what does it combine? Thanks for the clear and short explanation - I do agree with that, in fact my only doubt about the Quark with AR152 F/6.5 was the x4.3 in the Chromosphere or Prominence Quarks I have been looking around for a 100mm F10 too - mmm - interesting Strangely enough I did a 'card board cover for the AR152 a few years back with a ~50-60cm hole and fit a white solar filter!

WOW ! Very rewarding.

Right - good news then and I remember to have looked at that Tecnosky you have sometime ago! I have noticed already a couple of people mentioning the use of the Baader 2" 35nm HA filter ... At present, I am tending to go either Lunt 50 with Helical focuser [to start with, then maybe upgrade it] or the AR152 F/6.5 I have + Quark [obviously second hand, my pockets are very small!] Is there a URL I can see your images, just to give me an idea of what one could image? Thanks Mauro

Thanks for your input - appreciated. I agree with the 100-120mm I see most people that have experimented with them find it a 'sweet spot' price/resolution more affordable, therefore AR152 + results is too expensive as it needs the front filter ... etc. By the way, this AR152 is very sharp indeed for an F/6.5 OK, I keep learning and learning now ... Difficult to make a decision when pockets are tight. I probably need to set a budget + an extra possible top up and stick to it.

AMENDED: I do not know what happened with the title! Hi While I wait for Merlin66 PDF [PM] - I believe it is night there now [Australia, if I am not wrong!] and having read quite a lot of forum posts and I am still confused, I wonder if : E. Scientific AR152 988mm F/6.5 vs Quark or Bresser AR102 F/10 + PST Mod2 ? I do have a Bresser 102XS 460mm F/4.5 ... too short, but I do not have any Refractor F10 ... yet! I really wish to use the 152, but modding is expensive and maybe Quark cost less, but what do you really get using a quark - is it worth it? I am not made of money, like most of us therefore, the less expensive the better [family comes first] - possibly keeping resolution as high as possible, to give me 'more' to do ... in the warm - here in the UK is often cold and wet. The Sun is an added bonus - our beautiful nearest star, that keep us alive! Please be nice, although I am good DIYer, I do not know much about optics etc. - never actually learned about it, let alone the specifics of Solar 'expensive' area. I am a good leaner especially visually checking what others do. Thank you very much for the kind replies from those in the know and also those that already did the mods or got a Quark [I also wonder which one, really!] M PS I do have Baader Continuum 1.25" filter I used years ago in white light using an old LX200 10" - I might re-use it soon in white light as I had it re-aluminated last year or so and not used much, being busy during the day and then tired to get out at night! I do not have a PST thou!