Home made solar filter

[sanmatt]

Not too shabby I think

solar filter_221 copy by bms_nhs, on Flickr

solar filter_219 copy by bms_nhs, on Flickr

solar filter_220 copy by bms_nhs, on Flickr

[LukeSkywatcher]

Nice and neat. Looks good.

[sanmatt]

Thanks Paul (I didnt make it btw, Matthew did)

And the sun is trying to peep through so we've lobbed it all out to test

[sanmatt]

First light - an argument over whether we're seeing sunspots or muck on the ep. I think they are sunspots though. Epic, epic!!

Using a 25mm ep at present.

[starnut]

That's very nice well done

[sanmatt]

Thanks starnut

It's working well too, but it's cloudy here and there so we're struggling a bit. I can see the entire disc, it takes up most of the FOV (with a 25mm) but theres clear distinct sunspots on the surface, quite a few of them. It's brightish white but it's comfortable on the eyes The sunspots vary in shade from dark grey to lighter grey. Tried the 10mm but it's a cheapy ep so just shows things a bit bigger, nothing special.

Not sure if we can track with a celestron Nexstar goto though..keep losing the flipping disc!

[Bizibilder]

Have a look here: http://www.solen.info/solar/ to see what the Sun should look like and check for the positions of the visible spots (Scroll down a bit for the full disc picture).

[sanmatt]

Brilliant thanks. We can defo see sunspots then = 11484,82 and 79.

[sanmatt]

We're currently chasing it about, but trying to work out if we can track it or not, or at least keep it reasonably in the FOV. At least long enough to get a piccy!

eta - cloudy all night, cloudy all day. I'm going to take up knitting!!

[ollypenrice]

To see what's on the EP and what's not just rotate the EP. Only things on it will turn.

Watch the caps on the finder. If they come off, the expression 'Flaming red hair' might turn from metaphorical to literal!!!

You setup looks good. It's a real buzz to see solar detail.

Olly

[barkis]

To see what's on the EP and what's not just rotate the EP. Only things on it will turn.

Watch the caps on the finder. If they come off, the expression 'Flaming red hair' might turn from metaphorical to literal!!!

You setup looks good. It's a real buzz to see solar detail.

Olly

Drat!, I wanted to say rotate the eyepiece, but too late again:)

It looks a bit permanent that filter, or at least, difficult to remove and reuse.

[sanmatt]

The filter is snug so it shouldn't fall off but it comes on and off lovely.

Have the dslr on at the mo, snapping away like a good 'un, Clouds teasing me though, however I have got a collection of eery looking pics.

[Dunkster]

Looks great sanmatt! If only I was so brave and, well, the sun would come out 'round here

[sanmatt]

Thanks Dunkster. It works a treat, really happy with it

[sologuitarist61]

Well done to Matthew (though I am sure he was guided through it by you Sandra ). Very good indeed, look forward to seeing the pics as and when.

[sanmatt]

Semi guided I made tea and bread n butter pudding to ease his journey!

sun 19th may by bms_nhs, on Flickr

First image cloudy but I'm happy with our first. 1 sub, ISO400, 1/50th shutter speed.

[sologuitarist61]

Nice one Sandra

[sanmatt]

Thanks Richard

Anyone know what the wispy bits are at 1-3 oclock, and 4-5 O clock?

It was cloudy out but theres no other cloud on the outside of the sun showing, so I dont think those bits are clouds. What is it please?

[LukeSkywatcher]

Its clouds for sure.

[iwatkins]

Nice work Sandra (and hubby).

The wispy bits look like reflection of some sort to me as they coincide with the brighter parts visible on the suns surface due to the cloud.

Once you get a clear look (tomorrow morning looks good down our way), this should all settle out.

Cheers

Ian

[sanmatt]

Thanks chaps.

Ian do you mean reflection of clouds? I dont quite follow?

[iwatkins]

I don't know what I mean

Reflection is the wrong word, what I mean is where there is much brighter light (because of the cloud), you get a corresponding brighter patch extending outwards from the suns edge.

When you have clear skies, you will probably get a hard edge to the sun but with a grey sky surrounding it with that amount of aperture. Hence where there is cloud on this shot you don't see it.

When you get clear skies it'll be clear what I mean.

Hopefully

If not, feel free to tell me I'm a fool.

Cheers

Ian

[sanmatt]

Fool!!

So that bit there was less cloud than over the rest of the disc..summat summat summat?

[iwatkins]

Indeed