Solar viewing and expectations

[huggiebear]

Hi all

I don't feel like i'm getting enough use from my scope especially in the summer because an early sleeper.

Decided the next thing i'd like to try is viewing the Sun but i have seen several different images of what the Sun looks like through a scope. Some of the images are of a white disc, some of a yellow disc and others with more detail like this image.

So wanted to know what should i expect to see through my 200p Dob and what else other than the Baader astrosolar film ND5.0 i will need to get the best views close to the one in the picture or is this not possible with the scope i have.

[garethmob]

the image you posted is of a Ha image, you can only get these if you use a specilised Ha solar scope like a coronado PST or a lunt

heres a white light image, its not mine but its really good its been slightly coloured i think too this is what a baader film sort of will look like (imaging you use nd3.8 for visual you use nd5

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-solar/186473-white-light-23-04-12-a.html

[huggiebear]

Thanks Gaz. Where can i get ND3.8 and will webcam through nd5 give poor images?

[garethmob]

greenwitch does have it

Baader Planetarium - Baader Astrosolar Film and Filters

im not sure of the difference between the 2 when imaging i would assume the nd5 would let less light through

[StuW]

My image in the link posted above is ND5, it just means I have a slightly longer shutter speed on the DSLR. I tried with my SPC900 but I couldn't get it to focus, but that might just be me not getting the settings right in sharpcap.

[garethmob]

thanks stuw yours was the first i saw when i went into the imaging room

[huggiebear]

Thats for that Gaz. This i'll start off with the ND5 and see how it goes from there.

[Mr TamiyaCowboy]

new to solar imaging myself huggy and asked the very same question.

H-Alpha gives stunning views but for cost, it is expensive around £350 -£550 for a specialized telescope ( conorado) these see in the H-alpha range.

slightly cheaper and not by much is a Calcium K line filter, this gives that blue'ish intense look with all the eyecandy like a H-alpha.

the cheapest method is White light. over in the solar imaging section check out bizzibuilda's shots (sp), these are taken in white light and given some astrojazzle in photoshop and the likes.

for someone starting out i would say go with some astro film to learn the basics of viewing and imaging. a green filter will help bring out more contrast ( let you see more'ish ) but will never give you the expensive filtered eyecandy. but will help make things stand out a little.

getting graining is a little harder and requires fine tuning of your cameras settings ( i run a 350D canon dslr and a cheapy webcam), then onto learning how to tweek with photoshop and the likes.

[huggiebear]

Stu your picture is totally awersome. Did you use any other filters in addition to the ND5?

[huggiebear]

Thanks Mr Cowboy, off to order me some ND5.

[StuW]

Huggiebear, no other filters, just some tweaking in Photoshop.