RayGil

Some good points there Rich. Well written, should post it or point to it on Cumbrian Skies. Ray

This image from yesterday, enhanced showing faculae & prominences & correct orientation.

Clouds all Morning, but by 13:30 starting to clear up and more gaps were appearing. The scope was quickly set up from the now called "Solar Observing Hut", Laptop and CCD Camera set up. Finding the Sun is now getting a lot easier using the shadow method, and I decided to try the reducer lens for the NexImage camera, this has proved to work great on the Moon and gives a wider angle view. Focusing is still one of the main issues, but I think it's getting there, minute adjustments are difficult with this basic equipment. Sunspot count was 2 but with another forming and there was also some activity around one of the spots but this was not really picked up one the images were processed. The imaging session last about 45 minutes on and off, due to the high level of cloud, and this is very frustrating because i'm always rushing to try and get the best focus and position before the next cloud blocks the view.

Solar Imaging. 1st Attempt: Set the Scope up about 11:00 and got everything ready, there was cloud cover but it was moving South and leaving clear blue sky. Took about 9 CCD images, focusing was the main problem, one thing about the Sun is, it's so bright! Think I need to get something that will shade the eyepiece better, as the images from a normal eyepiece we really very good, when my wife arrived back from work, even she commented on the clarity of the image, 10mm, 20mm and the 32mm eyepieces were tried and the 32mm eyepiece certainly produces the clearest image. 60mm Diameter Scope, Focul Length 700mm, 32mm eyepiece gives aprox X22 Mag Imaging at the eyepiece using the Nikon Coolpix camera and Adapter failed to give satisfactory results, due to poor focusing. The NexImage CCD Camera is equivalent to a 5mm eyepiece = X140 Mag Tracking is another problem using the CCD camera, the Scope is a Celestron GOTO, but this fails to lock onto the Sun and keeps coming up with an Error. Things I need to Look into: 1) Better shade at eyepiece 2) Checking out the GOTO on the Celestron Scope, More info required. 3) Better Focusing, will need to do some more experiments. On the plus side, some of the images are acceptable and the Solar Filter worked well.

Ray's Astro-Photography Site