LukeSkywatcher

Thats what was said on the Daystar video clips online. I suppose it doesnt really matter though because the Sun light takes 8 mins to arrive. Its not as if you are going to miss anything while you wait.

Quick question about the Quark: When using it, if the image isnt as good as can be, you have to turn the knob left or right to get it up "to band". How long does this take to get up to heat?.

Thats even more clearer proof that the Quark can be situated before the diagonal. Ive solved my issue, but still interesting.

I've sorted out the issue i was having with the diagonal rotating in the scope draw tube. Apart from removing the 8-24mm Hyperion zoom EP and replacing it with a 30mm fixed focal length Vixen NPL EP, to reduce weight...........i have also replaced the diagonal i initially tried (it came with my £2K 8se) and replaced it with the diagonal that came with the (£100) 70mm Travelscope. Everything is now locked down and ship shape. I havent even switched the Quark on yet lor looked through it. I wanted to get everything locked down and safe. I do want to stat imaging, so my next move will be to add my 450D to the Quark (replacing the EP), and see how it handles the weight. Its surprising how light a camera body is without a camera lens attached. I have the T ring and nose piece for the 450D.........just never used them.

I was thinking along those lines (focal point of light etc) as being the only possible reason why it may not work. Also, the Quark has an integrated 4.3x barlow. If the barlow is situated before the diagonal, im pretty sure the whole image wouldnt sit on the diagonal mirror and then in the EP?. Im not sure if the Quark scope above has the same 4.3x barlow. I saw it in the catalogue but didnt read the specs. My UVIR filter arrived today. I had to laugh when i opened it. The description on FLO said something like: "Returned item. Had a rattle. Rattle fixed and filter is as new. Box is a bit tatty". The box is perfect. The only thing different about it from a brand new one is that the previous owner had cut along the sticker with a very sharp razor, to open the box. In other words, it was sold at a reduced price because it had been opened.........very carefully. No rattle either.

Interesting thought and I'm sure it would all connect up but optically I'm not so sure about the mechanics of it.

I've plenty of Eps to choose from.

It's not that zooms can't be used. They just don't give the best views. There's a few more on the list. TVs are recommended as the best to use. I wonder why. Plossls of any brand are also fine

I've just read the lovely glossy catalogue that came with Quark. It clearly says that scopes of 80mm or less do not need a ERF filter as they have insufficient thermal load. My UVIR will be here on Thursday. I'll think about what to do with it. The catalogue also says that zoom Eps are not really to be used. That's a load off my mind and the diagonal.

Well, my Quark finally made it home. Its bigger and heavier than I expected. I am not 100% happy with how it locks into my diagonal or how the zoom Ep locks into the Quark. The locking screws don't engage as much as I'd like and the diagonal can easily rotate. I probably have too much weight on the diagonal. I'll have to use fixed length EPs to take some of the load off of the diagonal and/or maybe try a different diagonal. I wouldn't want the Quark to hit the ground.

Thanks guys. Im sure my rig can handle it. If not, i will just swap out the 8-24mm for fixed FL EP's to get the best views. Haha!!!!!!!!! Dare i even introduce my 450D to the equation to image.

Ive posted off a few unwanted coloured glass filters and a Moon filter before to UK and America. I didnt want payment for them, so i simply put them in a padded envelope and posted them. They arrived safe and intact. If however you are expecting payment for something you send off, then Paypal, Postal Order or Bank transfer all work fine and are hassle free. Ive also bought some stuff from SGL members in the UK and paid by Paypal. No hassle what so ever.

Here's the diagram from Telescope Express in Germany. Whilst it does explain each individual part and workings of the Quark, its non-specific about about refractor size (when to use a UVIR or not). Reading the article posted earlier from the Daystar website, about refractor size etc.......it does leave you wondering. Its not quite clear about it. Better safe than sorry. Im now starting to wonder if my little 70mm refrac and Horizon 8115 tripod can handle the weight of an 8-24mm Hyperion zoom and a Quark. How much does the Quark weigh?.

My understanding (from what ive read online and here) is that most of the energy/heat when using a Quark is reflected back out the front of the telescope. With a Hershel wedge, it dumped out the back of the wedge. Ive touched my wedge after a couple of hours of use and there is next to no heat build up. I probably dont need the UVIR, but i'll never know because im not gonna use the Quark without it.

I did a Google search asking if I needed to use a UVIR filter and was led to Teleskop Express in Germany. They talk about all the parts of the Quark and have a diagram showing UVIR filter in place. I got nervous about using one or not and aired on the side of caution. I bought the one in FLOs offers section.

My refrac is 70mm (f5). So, with 70 mm, i should be good to go with optical train as above. No need for an ERF,UV/IR filter.

Here's the optical train which i believe is what i need to observe the Sun in Ha (in a safe way): Starting from my eye: Eye>EP>Quark>Diagonal>Scope. Is this correct? I dont need anything else? I dont want to blind myself.

I should expand on my above comment. I wont simply be doing solar observing. I'll always observe at night also. I just dont find the time or desire much lately to go out at night. The rubbish weather doesnt help. So, seen as Spring and Summer are around the corner, there hopefully will be plenty of clear days (ok, stop laughing at my glass half full mentality). Ive wanted to try Ha observing for about a year now, but its expensive and i didnt want to commit such a large chunk of money on observing 1 object. Now, im of the frame of mind that it will have a much higher yield of observing sessions than i get out of my nocturnal gear. It also fits in better with my new timetable. Im visiting hospital 3 days a week and its a full day each time. When i get home its like 7-8pm and i just cant be bothered. Usually fall asleep in front of the tv by 10pm anyway. Solar observing on the days i am at home fits my timetable much better.

I have decided to concentrate on solar, so wanted more than just a white light set up.

My Quark should be here in a couple of days. I see now on the invoice that they say its designed for F/4-F/9 refractors. My Travelscope of f5.7........so no worries there. The invoice says that an energy rejection filter is recommended. In my mind (already owning a Hershel Wedge), heat rejection=heat dump. What is a heat rejection filter, how much are they, and do i need one? Im thinking NO.

Silly as it sounds, the Sun is not the easiest thing to find with a telescope. Up til now i have relied on the shadow method but i want to be more accurate and less time consuming. Would this work on my Travelscope? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/lunt-solar-accessories/tele-vue-sol-searcher-for-lunt-solar-telescopes.html Can it be put in place instead of the typical RDF?.

Thanks all for your quick,honest,experienced advice about observing/imaging in Ha. I was going to hold off til Spring, but why wait?. There is plenty of winter sunshine to take advantage of. I said last year that Ha was something i wanted to explore and ive took the first step. The Quark promises a full disc on refracs up to FL of 450mm. I think mine is 650mm, so probably not a full disc view. I guess that depends on the magnification i use?. For observing purposes its not an issue, i can increase mag on any area. For imaging proms, i guess its not an issue either because i can zero in on a prom to image it?. I might have to read up on creating mosaic images.

Indeed. Both are the same thing just observed from a different perspective. Quite different and exciting in their own right though. I do want to do Solar imaging soon. I just hope my scope/tripod can handle the weight of a 450D hanging on the back of it. The 70mm Travelscope is a solidly built scope and the Horizon 8115 tripod is pretty rock steady. The 450D is quite light without a lens on it. I have all the bits to attach it to a scope. Ive just never done it before.

Thats great to know. I did pose the question above to something Floater said. I wasnt sure if Proms,filaments etc were directly connected to spots and spot activity. I should know better because looking at images in WL when there is nothing going on, the Ha observers/imagers are as busy as beavers. I didnt buy a Quark to see sunspots. They happen on a different level of the Sun to Ha activity. IIRC from a diagram Shane posted of the Sun, Ha looks through the layer of the Sun where spots appear and show a deeper down layer of the surface., as well as showing Proms (CME). Here's the diagram. Sorry, i know this is verging on solar observing rather than "show us your solar observing gear". I also stand corrected. Sunspots start in the photosphere and work their way to the chromosphere. The surface detail of the chromosphere is much more active than that of the photosphere (going by the diagram)