First go at solar observing

[Ags]

I've avoided solar observing out of fear of going blind, but the eclipse tempted me...

I converted my ST80 to a white light solar scope for the eclipse. I have a full aperture solar film mask on, but have stopped the scope down to F9 to sharpen up the image and remove CA.

I couldn't use the scope on Eclipse day, so today was the first opportunity. Using a 13mm hyperion (31x magnification), the detail on the sun was wonderful, with six sunspots visible, including a group of at least three. Also the sun surface around that group seemed different to the rest of the solar surface... as if it was silvery or twinkly.

I think I will keep my ST80 permanently configured as a solar telescope :-)

[Floater]

I commend the idea to the House!

Welcome to the sunny side of the street, Agnes.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Its always a nervous moment when you observe the Sun through a scope for the first time no matter what filter you use. I was terrified a couple of weeks ago when i first used my Hershel wedge and ND3.0,polarising and solar continuum filter.

I put my faith in the good people of SGL who advised me, and i went for it.

My permanent solar set up now is my 70mm Travelscope refractor,hershel wedge and ND 3.0,Solar continuum and Polarising filter.

[Ags]

I have a 1.25 polarizing filter somewhere, what does it add for solar observing?

[Peter Drew]

Slippery slope! 

[Ags]

Quark....

[Paul73]

I had my first look at the sun through a scope at SGLX over the weekend (many many thanks to Moonshane, BigSumorian and Jamie).

"Ambivalence" summed up my expectations......

Boy, has that changed now! What a dynamic beguiling wonderful experience.

Now I get it.

Try it.

Paul

[Paul73]

Quark....

You Sir, are an extremely bad influence!

chromosphere or prominence version?

Paul

PS. I want one. Amazing bit of kit. ££££ £££ ££ £ .....

[Ags]

Actually I do plan to get a Quark :-) It will take many months of saving however.

Looks like everyone gets the chromosphere version.

[Paul73]

Great pieces of kit. But, as you say, they don't come cheap.

Enjoy.

Paul

[LukeSkywatcher]

I have a 1.25 polarizing filter somewhere, what does it add for solar observing?

It allows you to control the brightness of the sun. It really is bright and i love my polarising filter.

[Moonshane]

it's definitely addictive. what could be better than sitting in the sun with a brew or sarnie, enjoying constantly changing features rarely seen by most astronomers!

don't underestimate how good a standard PST is as an intro into HA solar. you can get a used one for about £300+ if you are lucky and quick. with that and some ingenuity, and a little more money, you can have a PST stage one mod. and so it goes on.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Defintiely an addictive hobby. I now have more solar sessions than regular sessions each year, I think