Stu

55 minutes ago, Giles_B said:

I'm also intrigued by the option of using an EQ platform for imaging having struggled (and failed) for about two hours last night to get my 10" newt plus an imaging train balance on an EQ6! I think I'll be trying this option come planet season.

Should work very well, and much more easily for planetary and is perfectly doable for DSO although I haven’t tried that. I think @PeterStudz is our resident expert on this topic 👍

28 minutes ago, Richard N said:

There are some who might suggest that a Newtonian scope on an equatorial mount is not a Dob at all. And I would suggest that because something can be done doesn’t mean it’s a good option for most. 

Ah, but as in this case, a dob on an Equatorial Platform (not mount) is still a dob!

1 hour ago, Chaz2b said:

I now have quite a few tripods with various heads for mounting my scopes, but I still feel a little frustrated with them, too heavy and bulky, not strong enough, incorrect fittings etc.

What have you found to be an ideal tripod and mount for visual use?

I'm leaning towards a gitzo tripod, really excellent construction and portable, but what head?

Chaz

Which scope is it for Chaz?

I use a Gitzo GT5542LS and a ScopeTech Zero mount as a lightweight grab and go for my FC100DC. Both of these are no longer available but the latest Gitzo equivalent is the GT5543LS.

There is now a Sightron Japan Alt-Az Mount which is similar to the old ScopeTech I believe.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/alt-azimuth-astronomy-mounts/sightron-japan-alt-azimuth-mount.html
 

I don’t seem to be able to find the time for getting the scopes out currently, too much DIY and house/garden maintenance to do! Anyway, I managed to put our hammocks out at the weekend and have been enjoying a relax, looking up at the Moon and stars this evening. This is a 3 second shot from the hammock, handheld with an iPhone 15 Pro. Just shows the stabilisation works well!

I managed to unwittingly catch Mel 111 in the second on I believe.

I guess if you think what the little Seestar is capable of now, fast forward five years and….. 😱

I have a 16” dob in the garage but it hasn’t been used for a while…..

If just wanting to travel light, I would take  these with mine:

3 to 6 Nagler Zoom

     or

SvBony 3 to 8mm Zoom

Leica 8.9mm to 17.8mm Zoom

24mm Panoptic

I would likely choose the SvBony vs Nag as they are very similar quality and the Sv has the extra range, although eye relief is a consistent 10mm on the Nag which is nicer.

The Leica is pricey, but in my experience equals top notch eyepieces certainly over most of the fov, and it has between 60 and 80 degrees afov so doesn’t feel too constricted. Better than the Baader too from a limited side by side I did.

There is also the APM 7.7mm to 15.4mm Zoom which is highly rated, with a fairly consistent 66 degree afov. Cheaper than the Leica but range not quite as good.

It’s worth having the 24mm Pan along as it is one of the best eyepieces out there, a little gem in my book and the Baader Zoom at 24mm wouldn’t replace it.

16 hours ago, SwiMatt said:

Did you have the same passion with white light observing? I'm loving white light but I don't see it becoming my favorite type of observing, and I wonder if an Ha telescope is a completely different "game"...

As Roy says, they are completely different games, and alot depends on what kit you are using and the seeing conditions. With a good white light setup (well corrected 4” frac and a Herschel wedge), the views can be jaw dropping when conditions are right. The contrast and sharpness are amazing. It is generally static, but by watching carefully over 15 mins or so you can see changes in granulation patterns.

With Ha, it is less bright and lower contrast, but much more varied and dynamic. You can see proms changing over time, quite slowly but clearly happening. Occasionally you will see much faster moving features. On a couple of occasions I’ve seen plasma arcing down towards the surface, and watched little bombs of plasma (bright blobs) moving visibly from the top of the arc down to the surface. It doesn’t happen often but it’s amazing when it does.

Aperture counts for both, but seeing conditions are often limiting factor, so 100mm is often a sweet spot.

On 18/05/2024 at 07:08, 900SL said:

Thanks Stu.

 

The TS wedge 'Continuum' filter is fairly wide, I think 40nm from memory.

Would I see any improvement (for imaging) using my 4.5 nm Oiii narrowband filter?  

Worth trying I should think. May be a bit too narrow but I’ve not tried one so don’t know.

Gents, can we please play nicely and be courteous. There is clearly a difference of opinion here, but that is all it is. No need for an argument so please let’s drop the ‘is it an obsession copy or not’ debate and just enjoy seeing the build, in whatever form it takes. Members can see themselves how it is put together.

Cheers,

Stu

Nice shots @Nigella Bryant, similar views to me though I could only take 3s handheld shots.

I didn’t think I caught any of the crown, but going back through my images I do have two. They also show it near Arcturus, consistent with what others saw.

I am not bothered by what colour the Sun appears, just to see most detail so I use a Herschel Wedge, binoviewers and a Baader 7.5nm Continuum filter 👍

Interestingly Baader recommend the Continuum filter being closer to the scope and then the ND3.0, both on the eyepiece side of the wedge of course. This minimises reflections from the shiny Continuum.

The filter in my Mark II is a 7.5nm and I also have a polariser fitted which can vary brightness by moving the lever on the Wedge. I generally prefer it towards the brighter end of the scale, although sometimes granulation is easier to see with it a bit darker.

Stunning here, I drove just out of town and what a difference. Really clear, subtle pinks and greens visually but very strong on camera. Cant quite believe I’ve seen them from this far south. Amazing to see them change constantly, almost imperceptible but happening all the time.

Nothing visually here, but pointing the phone up and taking 3s exposures shows a lot of pink and hints of green…

I’m staying on the edge of Exmoor tomorrow night so would be great if this continues!

Can’t see anything visually, but my phone is picking up a lot of pink and hints of green, presume that is it????

3 hours ago, PeterStudz said:

Seeing dropped off too, plus transparency - there’s high level cloud giving the sky a milky haze. A few gaps though.

Those pics are good enough to give me a good idea. I’m wise enough to know that the actual views are far better. As I think I’ve said before:- it makes me want to invest in a similar setup! 

Yes, same here in terms of conditions.

Totally right in terms of the visual views being so much better. Visually in Ha there was plenty of fine flux lines arcing around the AR, bright plage areas which were so much brighter in reality. Well worth looking into, the views can be amazing.

16 hours ago, Leo S said:

Might have left it a bit late, but...

 

Can anyone recommend a good quality solar filter for the EF 800mm? It takes 52mm drop in filters. I'd prefer visible light, but not sure what is easily available.

Is the front threaded Leo?

Some very bad Ha pics, taken through the 102mm PST mod. Views were excellent for a while until seeing dropped off.

1 hour ago, Nik271 said:

Is that a double stacked PST mod? Looks fab, the views must be very good.

It’s actually only single, but the views are still fab. Proms are amazing, surface detail still very good. I have a 150mm too which is incredible when the seeing is good, surface detail is fantastic in that one.

Some very poor handheld phone images attached, mainly to show the image scale as much as anything.

Amazing views here. Seeing was good to start with but has dropped off now, views when good were incredible. So much going on in Ha in the big AR. Huge proms nearby too, and a nice filament by the AR.

Planning on putting the 102mm PST mod out today. Would love to get ‘the Beast’ out but don’t think I have time. Might do later if seeing is good.

32 minutes ago, Mr Magoo said:

is a Solarscope solar filter.

 

There are other, lower cost Ha options out there such as the Coronado PST and Lunt LS50 or Quark at the entry level, working up through larger aperture options.

10 hours ago, Mr Magoo said:

Would you say the Solarscope filters are superior to Baader Solar film? Is finer detail observable?

They are very different things. Solarscope filters are some of the best Ha filters which allow you to see prominences, filaments and other Ha features. Baader Solar film is the entry point to white light solar observing.which shows sunspots, active regions, granulation etc. A decent Herschel Wedge is the next step up for white light observing.

Am away tonight, and didn’t bring my scope which is a shame. Will have to grab a look on Friday if it is still around. Must keep a scope in the car!

I was driving up the A303 this morning in foggy conditions, and am sure I ‘spotted’ this AR naked eye with the sun shining weakly through the fog. Amazing!