Gorgeous Sun

[Sqyff]

Absolutely gorgeous features on the Sun today.

At least 6 proms all the way down the western limb from 1 o'clock to near 6 o'clock. Those lovely sunspots, filaments, magnetic disturbance.

Too much to describe really. If you haven't looked yet, get out there and treat yourself.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Oh dear, all grey here. There was quite a lot going on yesterday, sounds like things have livened up.

Enjoy the views!

[Sqyff]

Sorry to hear that Michael, hopefully someone will post some pictures, Although you can get an idea of the view from the GONG H-Alpha site. Some nice video of the proms.

[lukebl]

Indeed, some lovely proms on view. I had a go at capturing them. I'm very much a beginner at solar imaging and not sure if you'll approve of the processing, though!

PST, QHY5, 2x Barlow, c.550 frames stacked in registax. As an aside, my images show the most horrendous lumps of dust and other junk. They're not in the camera or barlow, as they stay in the same position if I rotate the cam. Any ideas what to do about that?

[jkwhinfrey]

I've seen nice sun spots recently in white light. These descriptions are bringing out H-alpha lust again though.

Should I get myself a PST? I'm going to have to find a way... my birthday's coming up very soon :-))

[Sqyff]

Possibly down on the PST blocking filter? I can't imagine anything would get in to the tube unless you have removed it at some point, although I'm definitely not an expert on this.

Great photo.

[Sqyff]

A PST came up on Astrobuysell yesterday for £310 but unfortunately it's already been sold.

[lukebl]

......Should I get myself a PST?.....

Of course you should. But you already knew that!

[jkwhinfrey]

A PST came up on Astrobuysell yesterday for £310 but unfortunately it's already been sold.

At that price I'm not surprised!

Lukebl, yeah ;-)

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Of course you should. But you already knew that!

Or a Lunt LS35 (not so easy to mod, but very, very nice)

:evil6:

[Galilean]

Should I get myself a PST? I'm going to have to find a way... my birthday's coming up very soon :-))

Shall we call that a rhetorical question? My birthday is in 3 weeks - I will be 65 and a penny insurance that my father took out for me when I was born is about to cough up. I hope it will be enough to double-stack my PST !!!

[jkwhinfrey]

Shall we call that a rhetorical question? My birthday is in 3 weeks - I will be 65 and a penny insurance that my father took out for me when I was born is about to cough up. I hope it will be enough to double-stack my PST !!!

It's had plenty of time to appreciate. Does double stacking make that much difference? I think it's beyond my means at the moment, may be when I'm 65 ;-)

I used a PST belonging to my local society last year, and I've been coverting one of my own ever since.

Michael, I'd thought about that, but I've a Vixen refractor that might lend itself to modding at some point in the future.

[Galilean]

jk, other people who have made the change say it is very well worth the outlay - I hope to be able to comment personally soon.

[Galilean]

http://telescopes.net/store/psm40-40mm-ha-narrowband-element-front-unit-tmax-tuner-for-double-stacking-a-pst-telescope.html

Well I ordered it - from a supplier in the US, who has it on offer. Now watch the clouds roll in in a week or so.

[Galilean]

I paid US $591 including transatlantic post. I see Rother valley optics have the same thing for 699 UKP. All down to how much customs duty and VAT I have to pay, but I still think I will make a good saving.

[Sqyff]

Good for you Galilean. You won't be disappointed.

Give it a few months and the dreaded aperture fever will hit and you'll be on the road to PST modding like the rest of us poor souls.

[Galilean]

Dare say that is so, sqyff, trouble is solar is so expensive!!! LOL

[Galilean]

My new toy has been sent - can´t wait - like a little kid at Xmas.

[jkwhinfrey]

Make sure you let us know about the results Galilean. Hope it doesn't take too long to arrive :-)

[Galilean]

Sure will!!

[allcart]

Lets hope the customs don't hit too hard. You might expect about 20% duty. I'd like to pop round and have a look at it when you get it as I'm in your nieghbourhood. I haven't looked through a DS yet.

[jkwhinfrey]

I borrowed a PST from my local Astronomy Society on Monday, and I've been rewarded with some fabulous views this lunchtime :-)))

Lots of sun spot activity, and some fascinating prominences too.

It's got to go back in a couple of weeks, so it's time to place my order.

[Sqyff]

I borrowed a PST from my local Astronomy Society on Monday, and I've been rewarded with some fabulous views this lunchtime :-)))

Lots of sun spot activity, and some fascinating prominences too.

It's got to go back in a couple of weeks, so it's time to place my order.

The PST is like a black hole, as soon as you get anywhere near one you get sucked in.

[Galilean]

I borrowed a PST from my local Astronomy Society on Monday, and I've been rewarded with some fabulous views this lunchtime :-)))

Lots of sun spot activity, and some fascinating prominences too.

It's got to go back in a couple of weeks, so it's time to place my order.

Well, you know you won´t be disappointed !!!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I do not have a PST, but I do absolutely love my LS35THa which is comparable. I got mine secondhand last year. It was fairly cheap, as there had been a spate of these going on the Dutch ABS equivalent (after the transit of Venus, no prizes for guessing why). Absolutely wonderful little scopes. I could kick myself for not bringing mine to work, as this morning the skies were leaden grey. Come lunchtime, they had cleared.