Nigella Bryant

For imaging you need the ND3.8 but shouldn't use it for visual, NEVER. ND5.0 is good for visual.

Goodness I won the sunspot slot, lol. They were all stunning images, well done everyone. I didn't expect to win a category, I'm humbled. The much prized mug will be with me in my solar observatory in the future, thanks Martin, much appreciated.

Hopefully get to it this week Paul.

It's quite a serious question as we age. I'm coming up 65 and although I've got two permanent observatories one for solar and one for night it's the solar that gets the most use. Even though the night scope is set up I still have to physically go out in the small hour's to be in the dome. It's not automated and I have to turn it occasionally also the scope isn't set up to control from indoors. With each passing year I'm now thinking I will eventually need to replace the old pulsar with an automated dome and to control everything from the comfort of my home office.

I have a C11, yes you can put it so out of focus that it's hard to detect anything. Focus on something in the distance during daytime and at least it'll help you complete focus during the night on a star, etc. I've just cleaned mine, corrector plate removed, mirrors cleaned and put back together. Even after focusing in daytime it was still way out on Jupiter. The focusing still had several turns to reach focus.

It was an interesting event, managed to image it but not processed yet. Quite fascinating to see Io pass in front of Jupiter's red spot.

Hopefully you'll get some clear skies tonight. Hope I do too, Jupiter being higher in the sky now is making a big difference.

Well, you just have to do it, lol 😆

A rare night excursion for me last night. I planned to image Jupiter and the night after the clouds dispersed was crisp. Io transits of Jupiter's red spot was particularly fascinating. Shot of dome with Jupiter overhead. Lovely purple colour from my mobile phone camera, lol.

I must say I'm amazed by the quality of the imaging and processing here. I bought my AA26c a few months ago but no first light yet, been setting up the telescope hub. Not done any real night time imaging with dedicated cameras before so this is all new to me but you all have inspired me greatly. Thank you for sharing.

I started using winjupos taking 10x2min video recordings. Once each autostacked use the files into winjupos and derotate. I use a C11 so a bit more resolution. Mars and Jupiter last year.

Only the new one's I'm afraid.

Yep, the Zwo Asi 178mm camera is great for solar imaging and observations. We'll done.

A couple of more image's from 12th July 2023. WL opticstar 127mm refractor, Zwo Asi 178mm. HA with lunt 60mm DS and same camera and processing. Software used, firecapture, autostakker3, ImPPG and Photoshop. 20% of 4000 frames stacked. False colour added in photoshop.

Apart from the solar which hasn't been to bad, averaging 10 days a month I love fettling my gear. So when it's cloudy and sometimes with rain I'm either processing my images or developing something or fettling something for the observatories or telescopes. Telescope hub, electronic focuser's for both telescope's, electrical sockets in the dome, etc, etc.

It's on thingyverse under eq8 Dec cover. Hope that helps.

Thanks Roy, much appreciated.

Thanks mog3768, much appreciated. The arched prom was quite active at the time.

Calcium II K, 12th July 2023. 125mm Achromatic refractor + Lunt B1800 Cak module. 2x barlow lens with Zwo Asi 178mm camera. Artificial colour added in photoshop. Software used, Autostakker3, ImPPG and Photoshop CS2.

Thanks Rusted, much appreciated. I'm always humbled by people's comments about my solar image's. I just love the dynamics of solar observations.

Come over to the light side from the dark, lol.

Thanks josefk, much appreciated. When the stacking finished I was quite excited, especially the close up calcium II k one's.

Oh dear, I seemed to have faired better than some on here. Some observations were challenging though with high winds and fast moving clouds but the breaks in those allowed me to image and observe.

Thanks Carol, solar has been amazing this year.

Thanks Jeremy, much appreciated.